Sparkes' mandril graft was evaluated as an arterial substitute on a study in experimental animals. Sparkes' mandril graft which consisted of a silicone rubber rod with a covering of siliconized knitted Dacron tube was inserted in a dog's subcutaneous layer. As the control, Tetoron mesh tubes were used. Another control study included knitted Dacron vascular pros theses which were examined from 1 to 177 weeks after implantation in the thoracic aortae of 146 dogs.
Under light microscope, the bundle of Dacron fiber of Sparkes' mandril graft was demonstrated to be encapsulated by connective tissue. However, the fibers had been siliconized, the bundle of them was floated in tissue fluid and did not attached directly to the surrounding connective tissue and tended to be separated from it. This finding indicated that the graft was easily affected by bacteremic challenge, because once the graft infection occured at a small part, it would frame up rapidly along the graft widely. Furthermore, during implantation, neointima of the graft would be easily scaled off from the Dacron fibers by the continuous stress of pulsation. At operation, the Sparkes' mandril graft had a great tendency for the end to fray. Thus, the Sparkes' mandril graft would not be able to maintain neointima stable.
In the cases of the control specimens of both Tetoron tube and knitted Dacron vascular prosthesis, connective tissue interspersed among the fibers of grafts and the surrounding connective tissue adhered to the fibers. They were more stable to handle than the Sparkes' mandril graft.
These results show that the Sparkes' mandril graft has grave falts and is unacceptable as an arterial substitute.
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