[Behavior of atheromatous vessel segments during pressure application of 5 kg/cm2 for various periods of time].

In this study changes in weight and thickness of atheromatous vessel wall segments in relation to a varying duration (2-60 sec.) of a constant pressure application (5 kg/cm2) were investigated. Vessel wall segments were taken shortly postmortem from human femoral and external iliacal arteries. According to the type of atherosclerotic changes the samples were divided into 2 types (lipoidosis/sclerosis) before the experiments. As standard served non-atheromatous segments. During pressure application all specimens showed rapid decrease in weight and thickness within the first 40 seconds. After 50 seconds no further change could be seen. Atheromata predominantly containing lipids and few collagen fibres showed higher decrease in weight and thickness than those predominantly containing collagen and the control group. A positive correlation was shown between decrease in weight and thickness of the specimens. Is is concluded that squeezing out tissue fluid by pressure application may lead to a decrease in thickness of the atheromata; the enlargement of the luminal diameter achieved by balloon catheters may be attributed to this mechanism.