A study of the mechanical properties of fresh and preserved human femoral vein wall and valve cusps.

In the hope that some varieties of the post-phlebitic syndrome might be treated by implanting a preserved vein valve, studies have been made of the mechanical properties of vein valves and vein wall before and after preservation with glutaraldehyde. The ultimate tensile strength (breaking stress) and strain (extensibility) of strips of vein wall and valve leaflet were measured with a Nene tensiometer. The ultimate tensile strength of valve leaflet was found to be twice that of vein wall. Preservation in glutaraldehyde (0.2 per cent, pH 7.4, for 7 days) with valve cusps closed by a minimum head of pressure caused no change in breaking stress or extensibility.