SVP

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The Effect of Storage Solutions on Endothelial Function in Human Saphenous Vein – An Immunofluorescence Study

• IRAS ID

  233420

• Contact name

  Norman Briffa

• Contact email

  norman.briffa@sth.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  During coronary artery bypass graft surgery damage occurs to human saphenous vein by several methods. One cause of injury is attributable to the fluid that the vein is stored in. Currently the solutions that are used at the Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (and commonly worldwide) are normal saline (sodium chloride) and the patient’s own (autologous) blood. There is currently no policy consensus in our own institution whether blood or saline is a more superior fluid than the other. It is known that using different storage solutions, which are buffered or act as a preservative, cause less harm to the endothelium. In addition the surgeons would like to use a buffered solution to preserve the harvested vein grafts but financial restraints and availability have made that option difficult.
  It is our hypothesis that both Plasma-Lyte 148 pH 7.4, a balanced electrolyte fluid used during surgery and DuraGraft, a buffered, antioxidant, long term tissue preservation fluid, made by Somahlution, USA, will cause less damage to the endothelium than currently used fluids. Studying the inflammatory response of the endothelium of human saphenous vein, following exposure to saline, autologous blood, Plasma-Lyte and DuraGraft will offer a guide to the best methods of reducing vein graft failure rates. According to Wise (2015) gold standard buffered solutions, such as DuraGraft, reduce endothelial damage. However, we will have to consider its cost and availability. The study would attempt to answer the following questions. Does Plasma-Lyte offer a low cost form of protection that is comparable to DuraGraft? Is Plasma-Lyte a superior solution to saline and blood?

  The samples will be taken from spare tissues as a result of a routine surgical procedure. They will be placed in the solutions as outlined in the protocol and analysed by STH staff alongside the University of Sheffield.

• REC name

  London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/LO/1998

• Date of REC Opinion

  15 Nov 2017

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion