1976 Volume 5 Issue 4 Pages 222-229
Swine carotid arteries were partically digested by the proteolytic enzyme chymotrypsin after being stripped of their surrounding tissues. However, being different from ficin treated bovine arteries reported by N. Rosenberg in 1956, they were keeping elastic fiber after treating. This was evidenced by measuring elongation rates by autography after tanning the treated arteries by glutaldialdehyde. Tanning agents were removed by ultrasonic washing. Fleund's adjuvant mixed solution in which treated and tanned arteries were washed well was infused i. v. to guinea pigs as an antigen and they had no anaphylactic shock.
Thus modified arteriografts (diameter 4.0-5.5mm) were transplanted to 45 dogs and non-treated arteries on 3 dogs as controls. 12 months studies on complications, blood composition, and pseudointima progress by scanning electron microscopes confirmed the function and safety, we have transplanted them at forarms of 34 hemodialysis patients as blood access. In 24 patients for 3 to 8 months after ttransplanation 71% was function and 29% failed (being retransplanted). Major complications were 6 infections, 5 pseudo diaphragm formation and 4 progressive narrowings of efferent veins. Immunomicro-fruorescent study demonstrated noinjury.
