Superficial venous anastomosis in the human upper extremity--a post-mortem study.

The frequent use of veins in surgery, especially in the replacement of clogged arteries in the lower extremities, persuaded the authors to conduct research concerning the morphology of superficial veins in the human upper extremity. In a post-mortem study a group of 40 male subjects of 22-92 years of age was examined. The preparation of the region of the elbow fossa was performed in order to establish the architecture of superficial veins in the extremity. Many detailed anthropometrical measurements were also carried out, enabling a typological evaluation to be made of the deceased under study. Two characteristic pictures of venous anastomosis were tested, one with symmetrical tributaries to the vena basilica et cephalica and the second characterised by a rich set of tributaries to the vena basilica. The characteristics, calibre and structure of both these suggest a fruitful application of them in vessel surgery. The vena cephalica in particular, taken with efficient valves, may successfully play the role of vessel implant.