Development of intimal hyperplasia in six different vascular prostheses.

Abstract

to compare six vascular prostheses for the development of intimal hyperplasia (IH) in a sheep model. prostheses tested were gelatin sealed Dacron (GSD), fluoropassivated Dacron (FPD), FluroIpassiv TM (FD), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), carbon-lined expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (CL-ePTFE) and vascular access graft (VAG). Sixty-two adult female Merino sheep (35-45 kg) were used. Elliptical graft patches were implanted into the left common carotid artery using one of the six graft types: GSD (n=10), FPD (n=10), FD (n=12) VAG (n=10), ePTFE (n=10), or CL-ePTFE (n=10). Four weeks later grafts were removed for histopathological assessment and measurement of the degree of IH obtained on a computerised image analysis system. IH indices were significantly less for FPD (0.191+/-0.095, p<0.05), FD (0.199+/-0. 081, p<0.05), ePTFE (0.213+/-0.078, p<0.05) and CL-ePTFE (0.161+/-0. 066,p<0.01), compared to the GSD group (0.287+/-0.077). The VAG group (0.257+/-0.091) showed no difference compared to GSD. There was no significant difference between the FPD, FD, ePTFE and CL-ePTFE grafts. this study indicates that less IH occurred in the two-ePTFE grafts and two fluoropolymer coated Dacron grafts than in gelatin sealed Dacron or polyurethane grafts.