ABSTRACT
Excellent patency rates are currently established in the use of autogenous veins as
interposition vein grafts in microsurgical practice. Allografts may be a viable alternative
source of vein grafts. Recent advances in cryobiology have enabled the controlled
freezing of tissues with preservation of vital cellular elements. Although several
reports have shown the successful use of cryopreserved large-vessel allografts, few
have addressed cryopreservation of microvessels (1 to 2 mm in diameter). In this study,
the authors have successfully cryopreserved femoral veins in a rat model and transplanted
them as interposition vein grafts into arterial defects across major histocompatibility
barriers (ACI to Lewis). Short-term patencies (21 days) were determined, and histologic
and scanning electron microscopic analysis were performed. Patency of 100 percent
was achieved in both fresh control veins and in cryopreserved veins at 21 days.
