Advanced Therapies Week 2022 | Human acellular vessels in coronary artery disease

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery represents the standard of care for patients with coronary artery disease, and whilst nearby vessels such as the internal mammary artery are utilized to relive blockages, some patients use the saphenous vein in the leg. Harvesting the saphenous vein is less efficacious and carries a higher risk of infection. Alan Kypson, MD, FACS, UNC REX Hospital, Raleigh, NC, describes the development of off-the-shelf human acellular vessels (HAVs) that are resistant to infection. Studies in primate models demonstrated the efficacy of HAVs, where smooth muscle and endothelial cells repopulated the graft, successfully replicating a blood vessel. This interview took place at Advanced Therapies Week 2022.