Decreased thrombogenicity of vascular prostheses following gas denucleation by hydrostatic pressure.
The high rate of thrombosis of 1.0-mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts has limited their use in microvascular surgery. One possible reason for this is the blood-gas interface due to entrapped air in the interstices. The present study examines the effect on patency rates of elimination of this blood-gas interface by high pressurization. Comparing pressurized and nonpressurized grafts in the same animals showed a patency rate of 100 percent at 7 days for treated grafts, while the control (nonpressurized) grafts had all clotted by 1 hour. The implications for microvascular surgery as well as vascular surgery in general are discussed.
Demas
C P
CP
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
Vann
R
R
Ritter
E
E
Sepka
R S
RS
Klitzman
B
B
Barwick
W J
WJ
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D051381:Rats; D014654:Vascular Patency
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene