DACRON-COVERED STENT-GRAFTS FOR THE PERCUTANEOUS TREATMENT OF CAROTIDANEURYSMS - EFFECTIVENESS AND BIOCOMPATIBILITY - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN SWINE

PURPOSE: To evaluate the short-term effectiveness and biocompatibility of Dacron-covered stent-grafts for percutaneous treatment of carotid aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In eight swine, nine aneurysms were created surgically in the common carotid artery. Percutaneous treatmen t was performed with Dacron-covered stent-grafts. Seven of eight swine underwent follow-up angiography at 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after stent i mplantation. Histologic examinations of tissue from the site of stent implantation were performed at the same intervals. RESULTS: Initial cl osing off of the aneurysm was possible in all swine. Angiographic foll ow-up revealed patency of only one Dacron-covered stent-graft after 2 weeks. In six of seven swine, the stent was occluded on the follow-up angiogram. One of the swine died of unclear cause after 1 week. The st ent-graft of this swine was not occluded. In all Dacron-covered stent- grafts, inflammatory reaction with granulocyte infiltration was found next to the Dacron material. CONCLUSION: Primary treatment of carotid aneurysms with Dacron-covered stent-grafts is effective. However, the short-term patency rate is poor, which probably can be attributed to t he limited biocompatibility of the Dacron cover. An acute inflammatory reaction against Dacron seems responsible for the poor patency rate.