A SMALL CALIBER PROSTHESIS MADE OF ULTRAFINE POLYESTER FIBERS SEEDED WITH AUTOGENOUS ENDOTHELIAL CELLS BY FILTRATION METHOD

Abstract

In order to investigate a small caliber prosthesis which is superior to an available synthetic graft, canine autogenous endothelial cells (ECs) were seeded with “filtration” method. A 4mm×10cm graft made of ultrafine polyester fibers was seeded with canine venous ECs, and 6cm out of 10cm was implanted to the carotid artery of the identical dog. Controls without cells were implanted contralaterally. One seeded graft was occluded during operation due to technical error. All of controls were occluded at two weeks. However, three out of seven seeded grafts were patent in two weeks.
Histological observation showed a monolayer of ECs at the midportion and the anastomosis of the seeded grafts. We concluded that the filtration method was easier than the rotation method, ECs showed antithrombogenisity whether they made a monolayer or not, and they made cobble stone appearance in vivo in the short preiod even though a monolayer of ECs was not formed prior to implantation.