INITIAL RESULTS OF ENDOTHELIAL-CELL SEEDING FOLLOWING ARGON-LASER CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY

This study evaluates the initial results of endothelial cell (EC) seeding following argon laser carotid endarterectomy. Venous endothelial cells were harvested from 12 dogs and cultured. A laser endarterectomy was performed on both carotids of each dog. One side was seeded with endothelial cells. Six dogs had both carotids harvested 1 hour after restoring blood flow. The others were harvested in 24 hours. The percentage of lumen covered with EC was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. At 1 hour, the seeded arteries demonstrated 35 +/- 3 percent EC coverage, whereas the unseeded arteries had no EC coverage (P = 0.0002). At 24 hours, the seeded arteries had 58 +/- 15 percent EC coverage, whereas the unseeded arteries had no coverage (P = 0.01). Significant gross thrombus developed only in unseeded arteries (P = 0.047), two of which were occluded at 24 hours. EC seeding is beneficial following argon laser carotid endarterectomy resulting in improved patency and less surface thrombogenicty.