TISSUE REACTION TO DACRON(R) VELOUR AND TITANIUM FIBER MESH USED FOR ANCHORAGE OF PERCUTANEOUS DEVICES

Dacron(R) velour is often used to anchor a percutaneous device, like t he catheter used in peritoneal dialysis. However, exit-site infections complicate this method of dialysis and are supposed to be related to the design of the catheter. In animal experiments, a percutaneous devi ce provided with a titanium fibre mesh to anchor the implant was not a ffected by infectious complications. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in soft tissue reaction to Dacron velour and t itanium fibre mesh under the same experimental conditions. Therefore, we placed implants, provided with either Dacron or titanium mesh, subc utaneously in the dorsum of goats. The implants were left in situ for 4 months. Histological and histomorphological evaluations were perform ed. It was found that the soft tissue response inside the Dacron was m ainly inflammatory, while the titanium mesh evoked good biocompatible behaviour. We concluded that the limited fibrous tissue ingrowth into the Dacron cuff has to be the reason for the observed high failure inc idence of a percutaneous device. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited.