Experimental study on stability of a high-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the stability of a high-porosity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft, which has been shown to possess excellent biocompatibility and tissue integration.


METHODS
The graft used in the present study was a high-porosity ePTFE graft , which had an average internodal distance of approximately 60 microm and a random node architecture with tortuous path channels extending from the outer to the inner surface. Eleven beagle dogs (each group n = 3 or 4) weighing 10-12 kg were used. The graft, with a 6 mm inside diameter and a 30-40 mm length, was implanted into the canine abdominal aorta and retrieved after 2-80 weeks. The deformation of the graft was evaluated by conventional computed tomography (CT). The radial tensile strength, longitudinal tensile strength, and suture retention strength of the graft were measured after 2-80 weeks.


RESULTS
CT studies showed no anastomotic aneurysm or deformation of the graft. Physical tests demonstrated no significant deterioration in suture retention strength, radial tensile strength or longitudinal tensile strength for periods ranging from 2-80 weeks compared to pre-implantation grafts.


CONCLUSIONS
The graft possesses adequate stability that ensures safe and effective clinical use.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Mitsuhiro
M
Isaka
Toshiya
T
Nishibe
Yasuhiro
Y
Okuda
Masaru
M
Saito
Takahiro
T
Seno
Kazuto
K
Yamashita
Yasuharu
Y
Izumisawa
Tadao
T
Kotani
Keishu
K
Yasuda
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016062:Porosity; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013718:Tensile Strength
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene