[Growth behavior of microvein and artery grafts].

In an experimental study with young rats the authors were able to prove that arterial and venous grafts show almost normal growth. With respect to patency rate, growth and integrity of the vessel wall the results with arterial grafts were more satisfactory than those with venous grafts. Examination of thirty-four patients who had undergone replantation or transplantation in infancy or childhood, showed that after digital replantation the extremities grew almost normally and that there was no indication of lag in vessel growth. Three times a slight change in growth after major limb replantations was found, in one case there was a slight increase in growth and in another case the growth was considerably diminished. In the latter there had been total destruction of the epiphyseal line. One large replantation was examined by angiography and normal development of the venous grafts was found.