J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 79(5): 382-393, 1978

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Original article

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON ARTERIAL TRANSPLANTATION WITH HUMAN UMBILICAL CORD VEINS

Human umbilical cord vein (UCV) has been evaluated for possible material as an arterial substitute. Human umbilical cords obtained at full-term deliveries are kept in isotonic saline (4°C) with antibiotics for 10 hours (Group 1), then in 70% ethylalcohol for one week (Group 2) or three weeks (Group 3). Pressure tolerance test curve of the UCV grafts demonstrated no significant difference among these three groups up to 300 mmHg of internal pressure without rupture.
A portion of the aorta between the renal and inferior mesenteric arteries was replaced with the preserved UCV graft by an end-to-end anastomosis. Twenty-one dogs were implanted (7 dogs for each group). All animals were followed up by aortography at intervals. All implants were recovered from the animals sacri ficed at 1, 3 and 6 months, and examined morphologically and histologically. In group 1, 4 dogs expired within 1 month, including one with sutureline disruption. Also, one dog showed thrombotic occlusion at 6 months. The success rate was 2/7 for group 1, and 6/7 for each of the remaining groups. There was no aneurysm formation in any of these specimens. Microscopically, group 1 in general showed more intense cellular reaction around the anastomosis site than other groups, which did not show any essential difference in histologic response to the grafts.
Based on these results, UCV is suitable as an arterial substitute. Especially, an alchhol-preserved UCV can be used more safely.

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