Protection of Saphenous Vein Graft from Arterial Pressure An Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Reoperations for bypass surgery increase the need for new grafts. We investigated early changes in both the normal human saphenous vein and in ectatic varicose veins externally supported by PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) graft and exposed to arterial pressure in an in vitro non-pulsatile flow model.