THE INFLUENCE OF THE STORAGE SOLUTIONS ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN SAPHENOUS VEINS

Objective. To analyze and evaluate the effect of solutions for storage and storage times on the morphological characteristics of the human great saphenous vein. Methods. 202 specimens of human saphenous veins obtained during phlebectomies or during CABG. The obtained samples immediately after harvesting from the patient were randomly placed into a sterile cardioplegic solution and a physiological solution with heparin and papaverine for further storage in a refrigerator at a temperature of +4°C. Histological, morphological, and immunological studies of the obtained samples were carried out within a period from 1 day to 1 month. To study the effect of varicose transformation, the studied samples were divided into 2 groups: group 1 - 120 sections of the great saphenous vein with varicose transformation; group 2 - 82 veins without varicose transformation. Depending on the solution in which the samples were stored, the veins of the first group were subdivided into 2 subgroups: 40 veins were stored in 0.9% sodium chloride solution with the addition of papaverine and heparin (subgroup 1p) and 80 veins, which were stored in cardioplegic solution (subgroup 1c). Results. The use of cold cardioplegic solution makes it possible to achieve complete decellularization of the saphenous vein within a period of 1 day to 1 week, while decomposition and homogenization of the conduit wall is observed within a period of two to three weeks, in the case of unchanged conduits, and within three weeks for veins with varicose veins deformation. Preservation of the collagen framework is observed in the period from the first days to three weeks of observation, which correlates with the preservation of the strength characteristics of venous conduits exposed to cold storage in cardioplegic solution. The loss of collagen fibers from their initial amount within 3 weeks for varicose veins is 8.6%, for veins without varicose transformation - 13.5%. Conclusion. The use of this method of storage of venous conduits makes it possible to achieve an adequate level of vascular decellularization already on the first day of storage, which helps to reduce the likelihood of subsequent rejection of the conduit and inducing of graft rejection reaction of the recipient, and the preservation of the collagen framework within a period up to three weeks makes it possible to use these conduits in vascular tissue engineering and for reconstructive vascular surgery. What this paper adds For the first time, the influence of storage periods and solutions for storage on the morphological properties of the human great saphenous vein has been studied. It has been established that use of cold cardioplegic solution for vein graft up to three weeks makes it possible to preserve the morphology of the extracellular matrix of the vascular network, when decellularization is achieved after one day of exposure (absence of the intimal layer of the vein).