TANTALUM-DACRON COKNIT STENT FOR ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT OF AORTIC-ANEURYSMS - A PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of i ntraluminal tantalum-Dacron coknit stents for the treatment of artific ial aortic aneurysms in minipigs. Methods: Replacement of the infraren al abdominal aorta with Dacron artificial aneurysm graft was performed in eight minipigs. After 2 weeks, balloon-expandable coknit stents we re inserted through the femoral artery to the site of the artificial a neurysm in seven minipigs. One animal was kept as a control. Coknit st ent/artificial aneurysm complexes were explanted at various intervals from 24 hours to 12 weeks and underwent gross examination, followed by scanning electron and light microscopy studies. Results: Aortography performed at the time of stent placement displayed immediate exclusion of the aneurysm in every case. In follow-up studies, all coknit stent s remained patent until the time of explant. Scanning electron microsc opy studies revealed apparent endothelialization of the entire coknit stent lumen at and after 6 weeks. Conclusions: Tantalum-Dacron coknit stents are efficient in the treatment of artificially created aneurysm s in minipigs and facilitate the creation of an endothelialized new va scular wall. Clinical application of this coknit stent can be consider ed but necessitates retaining the same stent structure in diameters gr eater than 20 mm and the development of a suitable delivery system.