Venous hemodynamics in a chronic venous valvular insufficiency model
S. G. Lalka, J. L. Unthank, M. C. Dalsing, D. F. Cikrit and A. P. Sawchuk
Department of Surgery, Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN.
To develop a large-animal model of chronic venous valve incompetence, 13
greyhound dogs underwent unilateral hindlimb venous valve lysis with a
valve cutter apparatus pulled retrograde through the iliac, femoral, and
lateral saphenous veins. Bilateral venous pressures in the lateral
saphenous vein were recorded before valve lysis, immediately after valve
lysis, and at intervals from 1 to 14 weeks after valve lysis, with the dogs
in the supine position and elevated 80 degrees semierect, as well as after
stimulated hindlimb muscle contraction to empty the hindlimb veins. Passive
venous filling time with elevation and 90% venous refilling time after
muscle contraction were calculated. From immediately after through 14 weeks
after valve lysis, a shortened venous filling time and 90% venous refilling
time as well as an elevated poststimulation venous pressure were noted.
This valve lysis method successfully produced a hemodynamically verified
model of venous valvular insufficiency.
