THE MORPHOLOGY AND THE BIOLOGICAL HEALING OF VARIOUS CURRENTLY USED VASCULAR PROSTHESES

Abstract

To compare the morphology and the biological healing of the various vascular prostheses, eight currently used vascular prostheses were observed microscopically under a transillumination method and were implanted in the descending thoracic aorta of mongrel dogs. The prostheses were Microknit, Bionit II, Vasculour II, Microvel, DeBakey Woven, Cooley Woven, Meadox Woven Double Velour, and Gore-Tex. The transillumination method showed surface microstructure of these grafts. The healing study at 2 months after implantation showed woven and knitted Dacron grafts generally had excellent full wall transinterstices healing. In contrast, the Gore-Tex had acellular area at the inner art of the interstices and had the worst thrombus free surface (TFS) score and the worst cell coverage (CC) score. The Bionit II had the best TFS score and the best CC score. We conclude the externally veloured warp-knit Dacron prostheseswould be most preferable at the small caliber arterial reconstruction.