title: Autologous vein supported with a biodegradable prosthesis for arterial grafting.
abstract: To evaluate the potential of a supporting, compliant, biodegradable prosthesis to function as a temporary protective scaffold for autologous vein grafts in the arterial circulation, we implanted vein grafts into the carotid arteries of rabbits, either with (composite grafts) or without (control grafts) such a supporting prosthesis, and evaluated them up to 6 weeks. The control vein grafts showed edema and severe medial disruption with infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells on day 1. Over the study, irregular fibrocyte formation resulted in the formation of a fibrotic vein wall. In contrast, the composite vein grafts showed preservation of smooth muscle cell layers and elastic laminae with a minor inflammatory response. Regular proliferation of fibroblasts, which in some areas were circularly oriented, was observed. We conclude that a supporting, compliant, biodegradable prosthesis can function as a protective scaffold for vein grafts in the arterial circulation, thus reducing damage to the vein graft wall and allowing gradual arterialization.
authors.affiliation: Cardiopulmonary Surgery Research Division, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Zweep
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van der Lei
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hinrichs
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dijk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feijen
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Wildevuur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors