A NEW CARDIAC WALL SUBSTITUTE MADE OF DACRON FABRIC PROSTHESIS SEALED WITH AUTOLOGOUS TISSUE FRAGMENTS

-STUDY OF NEOINTIMA FORMATION

Abstract

A cardiac wall substitute made of Dacron fabric prosthesis sealed with autologous tissue fragments was developed: An animal study showed rapid neointima formation. A piece of subcutaneous adipose tissue was minced and stirred into saline thereby creating a tissue suspension. A Dacron vascular prosthesis (Prosity: 4, 000ml/cm²/min at 12OmmHg) was clamped in its center with a haemostat. The tissue suspension was injected with pressure into one half of the prosthesis. Fresh blood was proured into it repeatedly to seal the other half by preclotting. It was cut longitudinally. By this procedure, a cardiac wall substitute was sealed with tissue fragments in one half and preclotted with blood on the other. The grafts were implanted into the right ventricular outflow tracts in 8 dogs. Two weeks after implantation, red thrombus adhered on the tissue fragments section. Light microscopical observation showed complete neointima formation at the tissue fragments area but thrombus layer at the preclotted area. These results indicated that the sealing of the fabric prosthesis with autologous tissue fragments was an ideal method for a cardiac wall substitute.