1990 Volume 19 Issue 3 Pages 1074-1077
We have found the failure of the artificial vascular grafts with a relative small caliber that have been used clinically since 1970s. There were lots of late occlusion cases. The cause of the occlusion have been viewed from various aspects, for example, the difference of compliance, the flow disturbance or the anastomosis techniques. We have insisted that the deficiency of cell affinity of graft materials was the most important cause. Autocollagen has the high affinity for cells of the host. Using autologous connective tissue, we attempted to develop a vascular prosthesis with a small caliber. Moreover, to get stable autologous connective tissue around the framework, we have used ultrafine polyester fibers (UFPF) that provide an excellent microenvironment for infiltration and proliferation of fibroblasts. We have developed a new method of inducing antithrombogenicity to the connective tissue tube applied to a small diameter vascular graft. In combination of UFPF and this new method, we have developed a new type of small diameter autologous connective tissue tube (ACTT). It is concluded that ACTT like graft with good cellar affinity will fill the growing demand for small caliber grafts in clinical use.
