THE CEREBRAL FUNCTION MONITOR (CFM) IS A USEFUL ADDITION TO A BILATERAL CAROTID-ARTERY, VEIN GRAFT MODEL

Following human coronary artery bypass surgery, vein graft occlusion i s a major cause of morbidity and mortality. An agent is required which will reduce the incidence of early graft thrombosis without causing s ystemic bleeding. To assess the efficacy of such agents a suitable exp erimental vein-graft model is required. A porcine, unilateral saphenou s vein-carotid artery bypass graft model has been described previously , although to assess the effect of locally applied anticoagulant drugs , insertion of grafts bilaterally would be advantageous, allowing trea ted and control grafts to be implanted in the same animal which would then act as its own control. Pigs are reported as having an excellent collateral cerebral circulation and hence in theory, would be suitable animals to use as a bilateral carotid vein-graft model. This paper de scribes the occurrence of serious neurological complications during th e development of such a model and suggests that by using a cerebral fu nction monitor, detection of critical reductions in cerebral perfusion can be made early and remedial action take.