Abstract
We demonstrated that microporous polyurethane small diameter vascular prostheses with hydraulic permeability (internal diameter: 1.5mm, length: 1.5-2cm, hydraulic permeability: 39ml/min/cm2) attained acceptable patency and a high degree of endothelialization at 3 months post-implantation. In the current study, microporous polyurethane small diameter vascular grafts (internal diameter: 1.5mm, length: 10cm, hydraulic permeability: 146ml/min/cm2) were fabricated. Patency, durability and endothelialization of the grafts were scheduled to be evaluated for more than 1 year after implantation. Those grafts were implanted end-to-end in a loop shape in the rat infrarenal aorta. At present, one rat has been alive for 207 days after implantation and two rats for 205 days. At 76 days and 133 days post-implantation, one rat out of the three was generally anesthetized, underwent lap aroto my in a clean condition, and graft pat ency was confirmed by direct palpation of the graft and the aorta in the neighborhood of the anastomo ses. The lap aroto my was closed and the rat has been raised for future periodical evaluation.