Cor Vasa 2006, 48(1):12-18 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2006.009

In vivo Study of a Collagen Impregnated Polyester Arterial Prosthesis: the Arteknit Ra K® Graft

Peter Ondruš¹, Roman Alberty^2,*, Jacques Lamarche³, Vincent Echavé⁴, Jacques Poisson⁴

¹ Kardiochirurgické oddelenie, Nemocnica F. D. Roosevelta

² Katedra biológie, Fakulta prírodných vied Univerzity M. Bela, Banská Bystrica, Slovenská republika

³ Department of Pathology, Sherbrooke University Hospital

⁴ Department of Surgery, Sherbrooke University Medical Center, Sherbrooke, Québec, Kanada

Purpose:
We have previously reported that a transient increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations in endothelial-like cells may reflect the endothelization process on the Arteknit Ra K® polyester arterial prosthesis implanted in the aorta of mongrel dogs (Physiol Res 51; 217-20:2002). In this study, we further examine early arterial graft healing, i. e. patency, morphology, endothelization and thromboresistance, after short implantation periods in these dogs.

Methods:
We implanted 12 Arteknit Ra K® prostheses in the aorta of mongrel dogs for scheduled periods ranging from 48 hours to 6 months. The explanted graft specimens were subjected to histological examination and scanning electron microscopy, analyzed for platelet and fibrinogen uptake as well as prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) concentrations.

Results:
At the time of sacrifice, all grafts were structurally intact and 11 of them showed afair dimensional stability. After 48 hours, an acute moderate inflammatory response was observed, later replaced by chronic inflammatory reaction with foreign-body giant cells still present at 6 months. After 1 month, patches of endothelial-like cells were formed in both anastomotic regions. The mid-portion of the graft was infiltrated by an organizing thrombotic matrix with sparsely distributed endothelial-like cells for the whole period of the experiment. After 3 months, the luminal collagen coating was bioeroded and collagen degradation did not interfere with the healing process. Thick external capsules were observed in the thorax at 3 and 6 months post implant. Within 1 and 6 months, the fibrinogen and platelet uptake was generally low and PGI2 : TXA2 ratios determined in whole segments of the graft were higher than 1.

Conclusions:
This Arteknit Ra K® polyester prosthesis has shown suitable dimensional stability and moderate biocompatibility and satisfactory healing performance in terms of tissue and inflammatory reactions.

Keywords: Arterial prosthesis; Polyester fibers; Thoraco-abdominal bypass graft; Histologic evaluation; Thromboresistance

Published: January 1, 2006  Show citation