title: Fatigue and/or failure phenomena observed in the fabric of stent-grafts explanted after adverse events.
abstract: In this study, we aimed to investigate changes to the fabric of Talent stent-grafts following implantation of aortic endografts and to determine the possible causes of fatigue and/or failure of the grafts. Six devices were explanted at reoperation (N=5) and autopsy (N=1). Selected segments were assessed nondestructively by gross observation and destructively by analyzing textile characteristics and chemical properties. All of the devices showed a 4/4 twill woven fabric of monofilament polyester. These devices, explanted at reoperation and autopsy, presented different levels of fatigue and/or failure. Numerous holes were found in the fabric of two devices. The minor damage caused by the passage of the sutures through the weave to fasten the Nitinol wires did not progress significantly over time. The sutures remained relatively intact, except for some distortions. The main failure mode was the abrasion of the yarns at the apices of adjacent Nitinol stents. In two devices, this abrasion resulted in fraying of the yarns and holes in the fabric tubes. This short series of explanted devices provides evidence of damage to polyester fabric used in aortic endografts and raises questions regarding their resistance to abrasion and the risk of endoleak associated with monofilament fabric yarn.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Textile Science and Technology of Ministry of Education and College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, PR. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guidoin
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nutley
authors.forename: Royston
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paynter
authors.forename: Dangheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Thien
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: How
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Crepeau
authors.forename: Yvan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Douville
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samis
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; D000497:Alloys; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D001344:Autopsy; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D020878:Device Removal; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011091:Polyesters; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D011091:Polyesters; C013616:nitinol