Use of Fibrinolysin in Experimental Inferior Vena Caval Replacement

Replacement of venous segments remains one of the unsolved problems in vascular surgery. In most instances, the failure is due to thrombotic occlusion of the graft, with the thrombosis originating at the suture line. 4 This project was carried out in order to determine the value of fibrinolysin in the prevention of thrombotic occlusion of the inferior vena cava. Venous autografts and various prosthetic materials were compared in both control and test groups because these represent extremes of success and failure in venous replacement. Bryant 2 reports 8 of 10 successful venous autografts used for inferior vena caval replacement. He had no success when using freeze-dried arterial homografts, freeze-dried venous homografts, and a variety of prosthetic grafts. Egdahl 5 reports no success with Orlon prostheses. Much work has been done on superior vena caval replacement. Results are conflicting, 4 but, in general, fresh venous autografts are most successful, venous and