title: Total pericardial replacement. Design and preliminary evaluation in greyhounds.
abstract: Existing pericardial substitutes, used for the prevention of pericardial and pleural adhesions to the epicardium, are in the form of a patch. To improve on this concept, an elastic, anatomically correct, implantable sac has been developed for total pericardial replacement. Total pericardial substitutes fabricated from Silastic silicone rubber and Mitrathane polyetherurethane urea were implanted in greyhound dogs and harvested at 8 weeks. Pericardial adhesions were prevented by the substitutes that remained intact. Fibrous tissue formation had occurred on the epicardium underlying the substitutes, the extent being more severe in response to the Silastic compared with the Mitrathane. However, the Silastic was superior to the Mitrathane in retention of its tensile strength and elastic modulus over the implant period (p less than 0.05). Further development of total pericardial substitutes from different materials shows promise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical, Bio, and Materials Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-6006.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brandon
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Guilbeau
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bjotvedt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Fisk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004285:Dogs; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013536:Suture Techniques; D000267:Tissue Adhesions
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; C044690:polyetherurethane urea