VASCULAR CRYOPRESERVATION IN MICROSURGERY

Cyropreservation of blood vessels has been carried out for some decade s with variable results. A rabbit model was used to compare cryopreser ved femoral artery allografts (n = 12 arteries), fresh autografts (n = 15 arteries), and fresh allografts (n = 16 arteries) at 1 and 3 month s postoperatively. Patency rates were highest in the fresh autografts (86.7 percent), followed by the cryopreserved allografts (66.7 percent at 1 month and 87.3 percent at 3 months) and fresh allografts (62.5 p ercent at 1 month and 75 percent at 3 months). The fresh allografts sh owed the greatest alterations in endothelial cells and intima and musc le layer, followed by cryopreserved allografts, and then fresh autogra fts. Changes observed included pseudoendothelium formation, thickened intima, and thinner muscle layer. Cellular infiltrate appeared on the vessel walls only in the cryopreserved allografts (25 percent), but th is did not have an effect on vascular patency. Fresh autografts remain the graft of choice for vascular defects, but cryopreserved allograft s serve as the most appropriate option when the former are unavailable .