Role of Scalene Muscle Block in Selecting Operative Candidates Among Patients with Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Abstract

The IHC showed positive expression of both vWF and a-smooth muscle actin, indicating a developing smooth muscle layer within the scaffold. While the smooth muscle cells in the experimental scaffold appeared less organized than those in native tissue, the DAPI-stained nuclei appeared to be more consistent with native organization (Fig 3). Conclusions:The experiments examining the use of acellular electro spun scaffolds in a rat carotid arterial interposition model suggest the described scaffold fabrication approach, as well as the employed surgical technique, are appropriate for this setting. Furthermore, the time points of 1 week and 3 weeks are suiTable for examining the formation of an endothelial monolayer on the surface of the implanted graft. Longer time points will be needed to assess smooth muscle tissue formation in scaffolds. Most importantly, time points between 3 and 8 weeks will be needed to further investigate the compromise of patency in this model at that time.