EVALUATION OF A POLYESTER COLLAGEN-COATED HEPARIN BONDED VASCULAR GRAFT

This animal study was designed to compare a collagen coated heparin bo nded vascular graft (CHG) versus a collagen coated vascular graft (CG) regarding intraoperative blood loss and healing process. 24 polyester vascular grafts (12 CHG and 12 CG) of 6 mm in diameter and 5 mm in le ngth were implanted between the common iliac and external iliac artery in 12 adult dogs. The grafts were explanted between the first and the sixth months which followed the implantations. The healing process wa s observed by gross examination, microscopic and scanning electron mic roscopic examination. Prostaglandin PGE2, TXB2, 6 keto PGF1 alpha and PGF2 alpha were measured by radioimmunologic assay from samples retrie ved from the medium part of the graft. During implantation, there mas no notable difference in blood loss through the graft. At the time of explantation, 20 grafts were patent (10 CHG, 10 CG). In both grafts, t he healing process developed progressively between 2 and 6 months and 90% of the internal surface of the grafts were covered with endothelia l Like cells. At 6 months, the internal layer was thinner in hepariniz ed graft. PGI2 secretion was found with the two types of grafts. In co nclusion, the present study showed no difference in the blood loss or healing characteristic of CHG and CG except for a potentially thinner internal layer with CHG. Comparative studies in humans are necessary t o evaluate the potential benefit of heparin bonded graft in clinical p ractice.