Abstract
Influence of fibril length upon ePTFE graft healing has not been investigated in detail. The purpose of this study was to determine the dependence of total graft healing on the four types of fibril length (20μm, 40μm, 60μm, 90μm) ePTFE grafts. EPTFE grafts of different fibril length were implanted into the abdominal aorta of rats(n=5 for each group). After 5 weeks, the grafts were harvested and examined for total graft healing by lightmicroscopy and SEM. The content of amino acids contained in grafts was measured. The neoendothelial coverage was related to the fibril length, and was better in 60μm and 90μm grafts than in 20μm and 40μm grafts. ‘Neomedia’ were mainly composed of spindle-shaped cells and lymphocytes, and its healing was better in 60μm and 90μm grafts. But host response to graft surface on the ‘neoadventitia’ was more sever in 40μm, 60μm and 90μm grafts than in 20μm grafts, that is, several foreign body giant cells could be found in long fibril length groups. The amount of hydroxyproline was also related to the fibril length, but no significant difference could be found on the ratio
of amino acids.
