title: Detailed analysis of a series of explanted Talent AAA stent-grafts: biofunctionality assessment.
abstract: Six Talent stent-grafts were harvested at reoperations (N=5) and autopsy (N=1). The explants were observed nondestructively, including gross morphology, X-rays, CT scans and closed pressure system analysis. The Nitinol frames in three devices harvested at reoperations and another harvested at autopsy were intact. One had a stent fracture of the proximal bare stent, and one had a wire fracture of a thin proximal external supporting stent as well as a hole in the fabric just above the bifurcation. For the three devices structurally intact, reoperations were performed for a type 1A endoleak (one patient) and aorto-enteric fistulas (two patients). The healing characteristics were poor or absent. The fabric in the main body of the grafts harvested after aorto-enteric fistula was devoid of biological deposits. Two of the grafts harvested at reoperation demonstrated fabric holes of up to 4 mm 2. The device obtained at autopsy showed an almost continuous internal capsule with variable thickness. The luminal surface was smooth, but the capsule detached easily. The devices explanted at reoperations showed various levels of impaired biofunctionality associated with adverse outcomes. The stent-graft retrieved from autopsy was intact.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery and Radiology, Laval University and Québec Biomaterials Institute, CHUQ, Quebec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nutley
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guidoin
authors.forename: Tieying
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Douville
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Georgi R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Marinov
authors.forename: Dangheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samisb
authors.forename: Yahye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Merhi
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dionne
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D020878:Device Removal; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation