Preserved Human Umbilical Cord Veins in Reconstructive Surgery of Peripheral Arteries. Clinical Experience and Preliminary Results

: Preserved human umbilical cord veins were used in 66 patients during 67 reconstructive interventions for replacement of arteries with a small diameter, in various anatomic sites. This includes 28 reinterventions (41.8% of the cases) after previous vascular surgery. In our predominantly negative selection of patients, 24 grafts were occluded within 3 months postoperatively, but some of these could be reopened successfully. Twelve more grafts were occluded by thrombosis up to one year after surgery. Taking into account the successful revisions, 62.5% out of 50 femoro-popliteal reconstructions were functioning one year after surgery. We therefore conclude that when an autogenous vein is no longer available, the use of glutaraldehyde-preserved human umbilical vein may thus be indicated for reconstructions extending beyond a joint.