[Comparative experimental animal studies for testing the usefulness of formalin- and glutaraldehyde-pretreated umbilical cord veins as artery replacements].

Formalin-fixed (F) and glutaraldehyde-pretreated (G) umbilical veins (n = 24) were interposed in the infra-renal aorta of dogs. The follow-up period was 1 year. Early complications with significant differences included 2 occlusions and 3 deaths (41.6%) in group F, 1 occlusion and 1 death (16.6%) in group G. Ten animals of group G and 7 of group F were alive at 1 year, 7 transplants of each of both groups were angiographically and macroscopically patent (25%). Four aneurysms (33.3%) existed angiographically and showed good collateral circulation angiographically (25%). Four aneurysms (33.3%) existed angiographically and macroscopically in group F (statistically significant). Histologically, group G was found to have a delayed resorption and an earlier beginning of connective-tissue proliferation as compared to group F. Considering early and late findings, G-pretreatment is preferable to F-treatment of umbilical veins.