Experimental Vein Graft Research: A Critical Appraisal of Models

Abstract

Experimental models of vein grafting need to have specific relevance to the clinical complications encountered in coronary artery bypass grafting: acute thrombosis, neointimaassociated stenosis, and progression of late-forming atherosclerotic lesions. Despite extensive use, many of these experimental models lack endpoint measures with clear analogies to their clinical counterparts and may in fact target the wrong (patho) physiologic process. Model selection is critical to further progress toward preventing these all too prevalent complications used for heart revascularization.