A comparison of autografts and frozen, irradiated homografts in canine femoral venous reconstruction

Autogenous veins are the ideal substitute for bridging venous defects. Experimentally, fresh homografts have patency rates comparable to autografts. However, a method of preservation must be employed if homografts become practical for clinical use. In this study, homografts were frozen, irradiated, and stored for a total of 6 weeks. Following femoral venous reconstruction, patency rates between frozen, irradiated homografts and fresh autografts were compared and found to be similar over a 6 month period. Recanalization of the frozen, irradiated homografts occurred at the same rate as did that of the autografts. This study concludes that cryopreservation and irradiation are suitable methods of preservation that do not adversely affect patency. In addition irradiation will sterilize tissue and may decrease the potential of the graft to stimulate the recipient's immunologic system.