[Morphologic and hydrodynamic characteristics of bovine jugular venous conduit with valves].

Objective: To determine the morphologic and hydrodynamic characteristics of bovine jugular venous conduit with valves.

Methods: Fresh bovine jugular veins with a retained native valve procured from a slaughterhouse were used as raw material to fabricate the valved conduits. The hydrodynamic performance of fresh and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine jugular vein conduits with valves was investigated in an experimental flow equipment that provided a constant pressure. The perfusion flow quantity through the conduits was measured under the antegrade (from the distal end to the proximal end) and retograde (from the proximal to the distal end) perfusion. The parameters of the valves in these bovine jugular venous conduits were also measured.

Results: There were 2-3 group valves in the bovine jugular venous conduit, with 3 or 2 valves in each group. The degrees of the leaflet development in different valves were different in the same conduit. The location of well-developed valves was interspersed. The anti-reflow ability of valves was positively correlated to the ratio between the leaflet height and valve sinus height (r = 0.709, P < 0.001). The percentage of retrograde and antegrade perfusion flow quantity after the glutaraldehyde treatment significantly increased than that before the glutaraldehyde treatment (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Part of the bovine jugular venous conduit has well-developed valves with strong ability against reflowing. Routine glutaraldehyde treatment obviously decreases the anti-reflow function of the conduits.