IN VIVO CHANGES OF THE PROSTHETIC GRAFTS AND PATCHES IN THE CLINICAL CASES STUDIED WITH A SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Abstract

Prosthetic grafts (Dacron and EPTFE) harvested during the reoperations were studied with a scanning electron microscope comparing with autopericardial patches. Among those prosthetic grafts, EPTFE possessed the possible problem that neointima attached on the inner surface of the graft was easy to be detached from it. It should also be pointed out that even autopericardium can make overproliferation of neointima under the specific condition. From these findings, prosthetic graft and patch which has some difficulty to make stable neointimization should be followed up carefully in the long term.