BALLOON EMBOLECTOMY CATHETERS IN SMALL ARTERIES .4. CORRELATION OF SHEAR FORCES WITH HISTOLOGIC INJURY

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 93  (6) , 798-808
Abstract
Experiments were performed in 18 dogs to evaluate the character and time course of arteial injury caused by balloon embolectomy catheters. Injury was correlated with balloon-artery shear forces. Shear forces were regulated intraoperatively. Thirty g force caused no injury in 14 specimens. Sixty g force stripped the intimal endothelium in 2 of 4 specimens examined at 2 days. Repair consisted of myointimal hypercellularity with return to normal 1-cell thickness within 28 days. Ninety and 120 g force stripped the intimal endothelium in 32 specimens with no medial injury. Repair again consisted of myointimal proliferation, which returned to normal in most vessels at 28 days. All vessels appeared normal at 6 mo. Balloon embolectomy catheters apparently can be a safe operative tool provided excessive shear forces are not imposed. This is quite feasible, for usual embolectomies were found to require about 60 g shear force. Two hundred g initial force cause intimal injruy and fracturing of the internal elastic lamina, with the latter injury persisting even after 6 mo.

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