Application of tubularized auricular cartilage graft as a biological stent on vascular defects in a rabbit model

Employing external support around vein grafts for prevention of intimal hyperplasia which is one of the main causes of late term vein graft failure has been subject of many studies. In this study we investigate the feasibility of tubularized autogenous cartilage as an external support around vein graft to prevent intimal hyperplasia.Twenty-four New Zealand adult male rabbits were used in this study. They were divided in 3 groups, as 8 rabbits for each group. A vascular defect of 3 cm was created on the femoral artery. The defect was repaired with a femoral vein graft in control group while it was repaired with a cartilage tube around the vein graft which was formed with auricular cartilage graft in group 2. In group 3, cartilage graft harvested from auricula was employed around the femoral vein as a tube and after 3 weeks of prefabrication femoral vein graft with overlying cartilage tube was harvested as an autogenous vascular conduit for the repair of vascular defect.At 1 month, patency rate was 100% in all groups. Vein grafts were removed for histopathological investigation. Intimal and medial thicknesses were measured and intimal/medial layer rates were calculated.The data were statistically analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U-test. Medial and intimal thickening were significantly less in group 2 and 3 compared to the unsupported control group (p?0.001).Autogenous cartilage graft used as an external support around vein graft was found to be effective in rabbits in prevention of intimal hyperplasia.