In vivo morphology of woven, collagen-sealed Dacron prostheses in the thoracic aorta.
BACKGROUND
Long-term changes in knitted Dacron grafts inserted into the infrarenal aorta have been addressed by a number of studies indicating their potential for postoperative dilatation. In contrast, the behavior of woven, collagen-presealed, double-velour Dacron grafts used to replace the thoracic aorta is not known.


METHODS
Forty-five patients were examined at a mean of 32.4 +/- 14.8 months after insertion of woven, collagen-coated, Dacron double-velour prostheses (Meadox woven with Hemashield, Meadox, Oakland, NJ) in the thoracic position under highly standardized conditions using spiral computed tomography.


RESULTS
Compared with a manufactured diameter of 26 mm, all grafts showed an increase of 1 to 5 mm (mean, 3.0 +/- 1.2 mm [11.6% +/- 4.4%]; p < 0.0001) with greater enlargement of the ascending than of the descending aortic portions (p = not significant). A further statistically significant progressive dilatation failed to occur. Degenerative changes, including false aneurysm formation, could be excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
Woven, collagen-coated Dacron prostheses are considered a safe replacement material for the thoracic aorta.
Franke
U
U
Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Radiological Center, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Jurmann
M J
MJ
Uthoff
K
K
Köhler
A
A
Jurmann
B
B
Wahlers
T
T
Borst
H G
HG
D000784:Aortic Dissection; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003094:Collagen; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D013784:Textiles
D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; C020542:velour; D003094:Collagen