Abnormal wall strain at distal end-to-side anastomoses.

Cyclic stretch has been demonstrated to induce proliferative and secretory activities by cultured arterial endothelial and smooth muscle cells, cellular processes that contribute to the development of intimal hyperplasia. A model of an end-to-side anastomosis was developed to examine the hypothesis that regions of the artery at such anastomoses are subjected to focally increased cyclic stretch, which may stimulate the development of intimal hyperplasia. Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were anastomosed end to side to latex rubber tubes that have elastic properties similar to those of the human femoral artery. Pulse waves with physiologic pressure, rate, and contour were applied, and systolic and diastolic diameters were measured in two planes at longitudinal intervals. Circumferential strain imposed on the latex "artery" was calculated at each interval. Strain imposed perpendicular to the suture line was also measured. Circumferential strain was consistently maximal at a distinct region of the "artery" along the proximal third of the anastomosis (6.0 +/- 1.1% vs. 3.3 +/- 0.5% at other regions of the "artery"). The maximal strain across the suture line was found at precisely the same region (3.9 +/- 0.3% vs. 2.0 +/- 0.4%). The anastomotic region of the recipient artery in a distal end-to-side anastomosis is subjected to cyclic circumferential strains two times greater than those experienced by the remainder of the artery. This corresponds to a common location of intimal hyperplasia. Such strains may be a stimulus for intimal hyperplasia.