Protection from atherosclerosis in vein grafts by a rigid external support.

Atherosclerosis is a common feature of autogenous vein bypass grafts resulting in their long-term failure. Arterial pressure-induced distension is thought to play a major role in the wall thickening of vein grafts, which may in turn favor atherosclerotic complications. In this study, we evaluated the influence of vein distension on the development of atherosclerotic lesions in jugular vein grafts interposed into the common carotid arteries of rabbits.

[Acute aortic dissection during pregnancy. Surgical treatment with maternal and fetal rescue].

Acute aortic dissection (AD) seldom affects young women, but when it occurs it is, in almost one out of two cases, during pregnancy. We report a case of severe AD during pregnancy in which emergency surgery immediately saved the life of the mother and the foetus. The mother died of cardiac complications 13 days after the operation; the condition of the newborn is satisfactory.

[Atherosclerosis of an arterialized venous graft. Reduction by rigid external support].

Vein grafts undergo early intimal thickening and accelerated atherosclerosis. To assess the role of increased wall stress and distension in the pathogenic responses, 11 New Zealand white rabbits underwent interposition of an autologous jugular vein graft in the left common carotid artery. To relieve wall stress and reduce distension, the half proximal part of the vein was wrapped with a polytetrafluoroethylene graft (i.

[Reduction of atherogenesis in an arterialized venous graft by using an external sleeve].

The parietal thickening of a vein under hemodynamical conditions in the arterial system can be reduced when supporting the vein with a rigid external sleeve. To assess the role of thickness reduction in atherogenesis of an arterialized vein graft, a 4 mm thick external sleeve was implemented around the proximal half of a carotid-carotid vein graft in 16 New Zealand rabbits. Eleven rabbits were submitted to a hypercholesterolemic diet (HC group), while five others were submitted to a normal cholesterol diet (NC group).

[Aneurysms of the abdominal aorta. Value and mode of detection].

Despite improvements in the treatment of risk factors for atherosclerosis, the incidence and mortality rate for aneurysms of the abdominal aorta have increased during the past 40 years. The prevalence of these aneurysms is 2.5 percent in unselected populations but reaches 13.