ObjectiveGreat Saphenous Veins (SVs) are widely used in coronary and in non-coronary surgery, and the need for vascular transplants is increasing. In older pre¬servation solutions, hypothermia leads to damage induced by reactive oxygen species. Iron chelators in the newer Tissue Protection (TiProtec) solution shall par¬ticularly protect vessels by preventing from that damage.It was the aim to compare three preservation solutions to maintain function and viability of human SVs.
MethodsVein segments were randomly assigned to Krebs-Henseleit Buffer (KHB), Viaspan (UW), or TiProtec. Contraction/relaxation in organ baths was assessed at 3, 24, 48 and 72h after removal. The protocol included three steps: receptor-independent contraction (KCl: 80μM), receptor-dependent contraction (PE: ≤30μM), endothelium-dependent relaxation (ACh: ≤20μM). Morphology: Vein segments were incubated with propidium iodide and 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate. Viability was assessed with fluorescence using laser scanning microscopy.
ResultsKHB was inappropriate after only 3h. In TiProtec, SVs contraction/relaxation had increased further at 72h, but not in both other groups. More necrosis was found in KHB SVs than in UW or TiProtec at 3h. More viable cells were found in UW and in TiProtec SVs on day-1, while only few cells were viable in KHB on day-10.
Summary and conclusionEven short storage of SVs in KHB is deleterious. UW preserved func¬tion better over time. The best functional and morphological results yielded TiProtec over time, and the amount of viable cells correlated with function. TiProtec seems a promising alternative for short-and mid-term hypothermic vein preservation.