Direct restoration of valvular function might find clinical application in the treatment of the disabling sequelae of mild or severe thrombophlebitis in the deep venous system in the lower extremities. Current surgical therapy is directed at the eradication of the secondarily incompetent superficial venous system and the communicating veins. Ligation at various levels in the deep venous system proved unsatisfactory in lowering ambulatory venous pressure and is no longer widely advocated.
Restoration of venous valve function might be attempted in various ways including reconstructive venoplastic procedures and substitution with synthetic valve prostheses. Transplantation of short valve-bearing vein segments seemed the simplest approach, since the method for simple, highly successful venous anastomoses is now available.1,2
Methods
Experimental Procedure.
—Small unselected mongrel dogs were anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital sodium in the standard dosage of 30-35 mg/kg. After suitable skin preparation and with the use of ordinary aseptic technique, the femoral veins