Long-term studies of cold-stored rabbit femoral artery and vein autografts

SUMMARY.In previous studies we have shown that 80–100% of rabbit femoral vascular autografts cold-stored at 4°C for 3 weeks remain patent 3 weeks after reinsertion in the femoral artery. The present study reports the effect on graft patency of increasing either the period of cold storage prior to reinsertion or the duration of reperfusion to 6 months.