Faculty Collaboration Database

Mechanics of fresh, refrigerated, and frozen arterial tissue. J Surg Res 2007 May 15;139(2):236-42

Date

02/17/2007

Pubmed ID

17303171

DOI

10.1016/j.jss.2006.09.001

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34047254136 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   144 Citations

Abstract

Arterial grafts and experimental soft tissues are commonly preserved using refrigeration and freezing. The present study was designed to investigate effects of common storage protocols on arterial mechanics. Porcine aortas were axially distracted to failure implementing fresh, refrigerated, and frozen storage conditions. Fresh tissues were tested within 24 h of sacrifice; refrigerated tissues were stored at +4 degrees C for 24 or 48 h prior to testing, and frozen tissues were stored at -20 or -80 degrees C for 3 months prior to testing. Blunt arterial injury experimentally occurred in distraction with intimal subfailure before ultimate failure in 82% of specimens. Subfailure stress decreased in refrigerated (0.59 +/- 0.19 MPa) compared to fresh (0.83 +/- 0.39 MPa) and frozen (0.99 +/- 0.41 MPa) specimens. Ultimate stress was also significantly decreased in refrigerated (0.83 +/- 0.19 MPa) compared to fresh (1.15 +/- 0.39 MPa) and frozen (1.32 +/- 0.31 MPa) specimens. Subfailure and ultimate strain were not significantly dependent upon storage technique. Young's modulus significantly decreased in refrigerated (1.89 +/- 0.63 MPa) compared to fresh (2.98 +/- 1.45 MPa) and frozen (3.49 +/- 1.32 MPa) specimens. Physiological, subfailure, and ultimate failure mechanics between fresh and frozen specimens were not significantly different. Clinically relevant intimal failures can be reproduced and injury mechanics determined while adhering to experimental protocols of freezing specimens before testing. However, short-term tissue refrigeration may affect mechanics.

Author List

Stemper BD, Yoganandan N, Stineman MR, Gennarelli TA, Baisden JL, Pintar FA

Authors

Frank A. Pintar PhD Chair, Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Brian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Narayan Yoganandan PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Aorta
Cryopreservation
Elasticity
Preservation, Biological
Refrigeration
Rupture
Stress, Mechanical
Swine
Tensile Strength