Louisiana Via Research Day Book 2026

Simulation / Education

Simulation / Education

127 CADAVERIC STUDY OF THE GREAT SAPHENOUS VEIN: SUITABILITY AS A BYPASS CONDUIT FAVORS PRESERVATION

128 IN SEARCH FOR A NEW GOLDEN RATIO: A MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE FORAMEN MAGNUM AND THE SKULL

Marci J. Peck, OMS-III; Cara Hanks, OMS-III 1 ; Michael A. Peck, MD 2 ; Jenna M. Dittmar, PhD 1 1 VCOM-Louisiana; 2 Vascular Institute of San Antonio-Baptist Medical Network, San Antonio, Texas

Cara Hanks, OMS-III 1 ; Marci Peck, OMS-III 1 ; Savannah Newell, PhD 1 ; Angela Dautartas, PhD 2 ; Jenna M. Dittmar, PhD 1 1 VCOM-Louisiana; 2 Department of Anthropology and Sociology, Western Carolina University, North Carolina

Ojectives: Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is highly prevalent in the aging population. There is significant morbidity and mortality when this atherosclerosis progresses to critical limb ischemia and revascularization is indicated. Endovascular techniques are frequently utilized yet there remains a significant indication for surgical bypass. Great saphenous vein (GSV) is the preferred conduit due to improved patency. Ablations of the GSV for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) have doubled over a recent 10-year period. This brings into question whether CVI is being aggressively treated at the expense of GSV preservation for future bypass. GSV-sparing procedures have shown efficacy in managing CVI leaving it available for future limb salvage. This study seeks to determine what percentage of a cohort of willed body donors had at least one GSV suitable for use in a limb salvage bypass procedure. Methods: Right and left GSVs from formalin embalmed cadavers (M=25, F=16) were exposed in-situ from medial malleolus to saphenofemoral junction. Vein length was measured using a sewing tape and native diameter was

determined with digital calipers (accuracy 0.01mm) at five standardized landmarks. A vein segment was considered usable if it had a minimum diameter of 2.4 mm. Small, absent, sclerotic or occluded segments were considered unusable. Veins were then categorized by the percentage of GSV that met all criteria with a 100% usable vein able to support a femoral to distal tibial bypass. A 75% usable vein was considered adequate for a femoral to popliteal or popliteal to tibial bypass. Results: In 41 cadavers, a total of 81 veins were measured. The average age of the group is 77.7 years with a range of 30 to 94. The mean GSV length was 68.8 cm, and the mean vessel diameter was 3.9 mm but increased to 4.1mm when all measurements under 2.4 mm were excluded. In 70.7% (29/41) of individuals, at least one GSV was 100% usable for bypass. In the entire vein sample, 59.3% (48/81) were deemed to be 100% usable and 88.9% (72/81) of all veins were 75% usable. Conclusion: In this sample, the majority of GSVs were of useable size, length and quality for surgical bypass. As the GSV is considered

the ideal conduit for potential lower extremity bypass, it is advisable that GSV ablation for venous disease should be reserved for only the most refractory cases.

Context: The foramen magnum is an important structure in the skull that has implications for use both clinically and archaeologically. Previous work on modern and ancient Turkish populations has demonstrated that there is a consistent ratio between the width and length of the foramen magnum and the skull that allows for measurement of the skull to predict foramen magnum measurements. Objective: This study aims to determine if the ratio found by Ulcay et al.1 holds true when applied to a set of modern American calvaria, or if a new ratio can be calculated. Materials and Methods: The anteroposterior and transverse diameter of the foramen magnum of 126 dried skulls of willed body donors were measured using digital sliding calipers. The length and width of each calvaria was measured using a spreading caliper. Indices comparing the widths and the lengths of the foramen magnum and the calvaria were calculated, as well as a ratio to see if one measurement could be used to predict the other.

Results: Comparison of the two indices showed that they were somewhat similar (1.15). The average coefficient for cranial width to foramen magnum width was 4.43 ± 0.38, while the average coefficient for cranial length to foramen magnum length was 5.10 ± 0.37. The average between these coefficients was 4.76 ± 0.32. However, when trying to use this coefficient to predict other measurements of the skulls, the ratio could not give an accurate prediction. Conclusions: On this skeletal series, the foramen magnu m and cranium did not seem to have a consistent ratio. The average coefficient was different than the “golden ratio” found by Ulcay et al.1 This could be due to the larger nature of this study or the different country of the origin of the specimens used here. More research needs to be done, ideally on remains from a variety of ancestries.

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2026 Research Recognition Day