Autologous vein stent-graft: Feasibility study

PURPOSE: To evaluate expandable stents healed into vein wall as autologous vein stent-grafts for endoluminal grafting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Balloon expandable stents were placed into external jugular veins of eight dogs. Stent and vein patency was followed by ultraso nography, Five weeks after stent placement, jugular veins with endotheliali zed stent were harvested, The autologous vein stent-grafts were divided int o two groups. In group A, autologous vein stent-grafts (n = 3) were placed immediately into Baker solution for microscopic examination. In group B, au tologous vein stent-grafts (n = 3) underwent mechanical manipulation; they were compressed, mounted on angioplasty balloon, pushed through a 9-F sheat h and dilated. The autologous vein stent-graft endothelialization and chang es after mechanical manipulation were evaluated by light and electron micro scopy. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in seven dogs. One stent migrated i nto the pulmonary artery. One well placed stent was damaged by compression dressing and thrombosed. At 5 weeks, gross and microscopic examinations rev ealed the autologous vein stent-grafts were fully covered by a 0.115- +/- 0 .036-mm-thick neointimal layer. Small wall thrombus was observed in one aut ologous vein stent-graft. Repeated manipulations did not result in any inti mal damage or stent loosening in the autologous vein stent-grafts. CONCLUSION: Expandable stents healed into a vein have potential to be used as autologous vein stent-grafts for endoluminal grafting without risk of di sruption during percutaneous transcatheter introduction.