EXPERIMENTAL PROSTHETIC VEIN VALVE

Chronic venous insufficiency represents a sizable burden to the health care system owing to its significant morbidity. Current medical and s urgical therapies are often ineffective in obtaining excellent long-te rm control of this disease. This has prompted the development of a syn thetic vein valve for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. E leven dogs underwent the implantation of twelve valves into the femora l veins. Initial studies showed the valves to be competent and patent. However, over a two-year period, dense ingrowth of intimal hyperplasi a rendered the valves functionless.