HEPARINIZATION OF BIOLOGICAL VASCULAR GRAFT REDUCES FIBRIN DEPOSITION

An alternative graft is needed for coronary bypass operations in patie nts lacking suitable autologous vessels. We therefore studied Denaflex (TM) a biologic graft, in a dog ex-vivo shunt model to determine wheth er heparin treatment makes this graft less thrombogenic. Comparison wa s also made to Bioflow(TM) a nonheparinized biologic graft. Fibrinogen deposition during high flow (593 +/- 202 ml/min) decreased from 672 /- 467 ng/mm2 in nonheparinized Denaflex grafts to 448 +/- 298 ng/mm2 (p<0.05) in heparinized Denaflex grafts. At low now (117 +/- 13 ml/min ), heparinization of Denaflex grafts similarly decreased fibrinogen de position from 1102 +/- 601 ng/mm2 to 703 +/- 405 ng/mm2 (p<0.05). At b oth flow rates fibrinogen deposition in Bioflow grafts was less than i n nonheparinized Denaflex, but was similar to heparinized Denaflex gra fts. Platelet deposition was not influenced by heparinization of Denaf lex grafts and was similar among Denaflex and Bioflow preparations. Wh ether Denaflex performs acceptably in vivo as a xenograft requires ext ensive study.