Abstract
Arterial stenosis is a common consequence of several vascular pathologies; surgical arterioplasty produces improvement of blood flow, but recurrent stenosis is frequent. A method of increasing the arterial lumen consists of a longitudinal arteriotomy left opened within a wrapping membrane of glu taraldehyde-tanned bovine pericardium, avoiding sutures in the arterial wall. Girdled arteriotomy was performed in the common carotid artery of 12 dogs; four months later, 3 of them were studied by angiography, Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and histology. The inner area of the arterial lumen had increased 96% when compared with the contralateral artery, immune tolerance to the foreign membrane was optimal, a newly formed endothelium covered the space between the edges of the arteriotomy, and the blood flow had increased as measured by Doppler ultrasound. Most causes of postsurgical arterial resteno sis seem to be prevented. Girdled arteriotomy is a fast and simple surgical pro cedure that could be used in the treatment of arterial stenosis.
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