Development of intimal hyperplasia in six different vascular prostheses.
OBJECTIVE
to compare six vascular prostheses for the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) in a sheep model.


METHODS
prostheses tested were gelatin sealed Dacron (GSD), fluoropassivated Dacron (FPD), FluroIpassiv TM (FD), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), carbon-lined expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (CL-ePTFE) and vascular access graft (VAG). Sixty-two adult female Merino sheep (35-45 kg) were used. Elliptical graft patches were implanted into the left common carotid artery using one of the six graft types: GSD (n=10), FPD (n=10), FD (n=12) VAG (n=10), ePTFE (n=10), or CL-ePTFE (n=10). Four weeks later grafts were removed for histopathological assessment and measurement of the degree of IH obtained on a computerised image analysis system.


RESULTS
IH indices were significantly less for FPD (0.191+/-0.095, p<0.05), FD (0.199+/-0. 081, p<0.05), ePTFE (0.213+/-0.078, p<0.05) and CL-ePTFE (0.161+/-0. 066,p<0.01), compared to the GSD group (0.287+/-0.077). The VAG group (0.257+/-0.091) showed no difference compared to GSD. There was no significant difference between the FPD, FD, ePTFE and CL-ePTFE grafts.


CONCLUSIONS
this study indicates that less IH occurred in the two-ePTFE grafts and two fluoropolymer coated Dacron grafts than in gelatin sealed Dacron or polyurethane grafts.
Ao
P Y
PY
Department of Surgery, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.
Hawthorne
W J
WJ
Vicaretti
M
M
Fletcher
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002244:Carbon; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia; D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011140:Polyurethanes; D012756:Sheep; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*
D011091:Polyesters; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011140:Polyurethanes; D002244:Carbon; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene