[Myointimal hyperplasia caused by vascular suture. A case report and general considerations].

Smooth muscle cell proliferation is a step of the repair process after vascular injury. A similar process occurs after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and can lead to intimal hyperplasia and vascular restenosis. We have recently observed this process in an anastomotic restenosis after saphenous vein by-pass in the popliteal artery. We suppose that myointimal hyperplasia can also be an aspecific response to surgical intimal injury.