Experimental Vein Graft Research: A Critical Appraisal of Models

Abstract

Experimental models of vein grafting need to have specific relevance to the clinical
complications encountered in coronary artery bypass grafting: acute thrombosis, neointimaassociated
stenosis, and progression of late-forming atherosclerotic lesions. Despite extensive
use, many of these experimental models lack endpoint measures with clear analogies to their
clinical counterparts and may in fact target the wrong (patho) physiologic process. Model selection
is critical to further progress toward preventing these all too prevalent complications
used for heart revascularization.