COMPARISON OF THE TENSILE STRENGTH IN ARTERIAL PROSTEETIC ANASTOMOSES

Abstract

Composite grafts, 6mm in internal diameter and 3.0cm in length, were implanted into the abdominal aorta of adult mongrel dogs. Absorbable polyglycolic acid suture material was used. At 16 weeks after the implantation. tensile strength of the bilateral anastomoses were measured. The anastomosis of velour graft was significantly stronger than that of non-velour graft. At the disrupted site of non-velou graft. fibrous outer sheath Was remarkably Separated from the graft. Between knitted graft and woven graft there was no difference in anastomotic tensile strength. The anastomosis of Gore-Tex graft was as strong as that of velour graft, but the organization of Gore-Tex, especially at anastomotic site, was poor. this requires further evaluation over longer period. We coneluded from the study that Organization and fixation of fibrous outer sheath were the most important factors in anastomotic tensile strength.