A study of seven different types of grafts for jugular vein transplantation in the horse

• Published in: Research in veterinary science Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 211 - 217
• Main Authors: Wiemer, P., Gruys, E., van Hoeck, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier India Pvt Ltd 01.12.2005; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: allografting; Animals; Blood clots; Catheters; cell proliferation; Clinical trials; cryopreservation; endothelium; glutaraldehyde; Graft; graft rejection; histology; Horse; horse diseases; Horse Diseases - pathology; Horse Diseases - surgery; horses; Horses - surgery; Jugular vein; Jugular Veins - transplantation; Random Allocation; Surgery; thrombosis; Thrombosis - pathology; Thrombosis - surgery; Thrombosis - veterinary; tissue transplantation; Tissue Transplantation - classification; Tissue Transplantation - methods; Vascular surgery; Veins & arteries; Veterinary medicine; Jugular vein; Graft; Vascular surgery; Horse
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2004.12.005

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological behaviour of vascular grafts replacing a section of the jugular vein in order to improve the results of the surgical treatment of complete thrombosis of the jugular vein in the horse. Seven graft types: fresh allograft, home frozen allograft, glutaraldehyde-fixed allograft, cryo-preserved allograft, PTFE-graft (Gore ®), small intestinal submucosa preparation (Cook ®) and fresh autograft, were randomly implanted in ponies. The grafts were removed after one month and examined histologically for: preservation of the graft structures, acceptance by the host, intima proliferation, presence of endothelium and patency. The glutaraldehyde- and cryopreserved grafts show reasonable results and the PTFE and autograft had the best results especially with respect to host acceptance, endothelium presence and patency. Further research is necessary to improve graft behaviour, especially to the aspect of endothelisation. Obstruction of the jugular vein in horses can be treated surgically.