RECONSTRUCTION OF THE JUGULAR-VEIN IN HORSES WITH POST THROMBOPHLEBITIS STENOSIS USING SAPHENOUS-VEIN GRAFT

A surgical technique is described in which a saphenous vein graft is u sed to reconstruct the jugular vein in horses with facial oedema due t o post thrombophlebitic stenosis of the jugular vein. The saphenous ve in was harvested from the contralateral limb and implanted in the occl uded vein by 2 side-to-end anastomoses. Intra-and post operatively ant icoagulative medication was administered. In 2 out of 3 patients the r econstruction resulted in a permanent patent graft and resolution of t he facial oedema. In one patient the graft thrombosed.