Increase in the lumen of the femoral artery in dogs with an arteriotomy encircled by glutaraldehyde-tanned calf pericardium.

A fast and simple experimental method of arterioplasty that produces enduring enlargement of the lumen of large arteries is described. We studied the long-term intraluminal patency of femoral arteries of four dogs subjected to a procedure in which a longitudinal 3-cm loophole was made in the artery and left open inside a girdling cylinder of glutaraldehyde-tanned calf pericardium. One year later, Doppler ultrasound and histological studies were performed in the operated and contralateral arteries. Lasting enlargement of the lumen was obtained along the 3-cm arteriotomy. The mean cross-sectional internal diameter in the middle of the surgical area was 2.2 +/- 0.1 mm, in contrast to 1.2 +/- 0.2 mm in the non-operated contralateral artery (P < 0.01). The ultrasound study showed an increase in blood flow and histological analysis demonstrated a threefold increase in the internal area of the arterial lumen, and new endothelium, which fully covered the operated segment. Our results showed an enduring increase in the lumen in segments of large arteries subjected to our new arterioplasty procedure.