Soft filamentous woven polyester arterial prosthesis from China

Soft filamentous woven polyester arterial prosthesis from China

Soft filamentouswoven polyester arterial prosthesis from China* TianJian Rae and Chih Pan Research Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases. Shanghai...

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Soft filamentouswoven polyester arterial prosthesis from China* TianJian Rae and Chih Pan Research

Laboratory

of Cardiovascular

Diseases.

Shanghai

Chest

Hospital,

Shanghai.

China

Robert Guidoin,DanielMarceauand Paul-EmileRoy Laboratory

of ExperimentalSurgery,

Lava1 University

and8iomaterials

Institute.

St-Fraqois

d‘Assise

Hospital,

Quebec,

QC, Canada

Martin Kingand Sri@& Badour Clothing

and

Textiles,

University

of Manitoba,

Winnipeg,

Manitoba,

Canada

Jusheng Rui, HaiminChengand CilanLi Faculty

of Biology,

University,

Sample-Making

Factory

of Sozhoo,

10 September

Woven polyester

1989;

arterial

surface

which

external

capsules.

China

China 20

January

polyester

the new prototype

and flexibility. properties

a unique lightweight,

healing was achieved

ingrowth

was

Further

highly porous, satin weave

is needed

before implantation.

and 19 of the 20 grafts

with tightly

This study undertook in comparison

bound capsules,

to evaluate

with

a

four

in which

in 20 dogs for periods ranging from 4 h

was necessary

blood loss was observed,

Rapid full-width

and

Republic of China.

an animal trial was completed

aortic substitute

preclotting

work

softness

and smooth

of their internal

in the Peoples’

and physical

origin. In addition,

as an infrarenal

sacrifice.

observed.

in poor attachment

been developed

porosity,

its structure

permeability,

no significant

been known for their tight construction

and resulted

has recently

grafts of North American

was implanted

of its high water

and installed,

capacity

are its high physical to characterize

to 12 month. The in vitro tests confirmed Because

1990)

have traditionally

their healing

A new woven prototype

of in vitro tests

commercial

Jiangsu,

accepted

prostheses

has limited

Among its unique features series

Shanghai.

Qian and ChenhuaJAI-I

Xiaoping (Received

Fudan

its long-term

construction.

Once preclotted

remained

patent

and more extensive durability

at the tissue

as an arterial

substitute. Keywords:

Polyester.

blood,

vascular

prostheses

With more than 30 years of clinical use, vascular prostheses constructed from polyester fibres have proved to be the most reliable arterial substitutes for the replacement and bypass of large and medium vessels. Over the years, a number of different types have emerged which contain either different textile constructions, such as knitted and woven, or different types of yarn, such as flat or texturized’. The woven construction is preferred for the repair of abdominal aortic *Presented Surgery,

at the UMIST.

Correspondence St-Francols

0

1991

international Manchester,

to

d’Asslse

Dr

Conference UK

1 l-l

R. Guldotn,

Hospital,

Butterworth-Heinemann

on

2 July.

Biomaterials

10 de I’Espinay,

Textiles

in

Medicine

and

1989. Institute,

Quebec.

Room

QC G 1 L 3L5,

FI-304. Canada.

aneurysms2 and for the replacement of the thoracic aorta, because of its greater strength and superior ability to control blood 10~s~.4. On the other hand, the woven prosthesis is more difficult to suture, and suffers from inferior healing5,6 on account of the poor attachment of the internal and external capsules to its smooth fabric surface7. In an attempt to overcome these deficiencies, textile and surgical researchers in China have recently developed a new prototype woven prosthesis. This prosthesis differs from commercial products in that it is soft and more flexible and has a filamentous velour surface. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the healing capacity of this

Ltd. 0142-9612/91/030335-10

Biomaterials

199 1. Vol

12 April

335

Polyester arterial prosthesis: T.J. Rae et al.

prototype using an animal model and to compare its in vitro properties with those of other virgin woven prostheses which are commercially available in North America and China.

MATERIALS Selection

AND

METHODS

of prostheses

In addition to the soft, filamentous, prototype prosthesis from China, which was used in both parts of the study, thein vitro evaluation included a regular woven Chinese graft and the following three woven grafts of North American origin: Soft Woven DeBakey (Bard Cardiosurgery Division, CR. Bard, Billerica, MA, USA), Cooley Verisoft and Woven Double Velour grafts (Meadox Medicals, Oakland, NJ, USA). These last three products have received widespread clinical acceptance in Western countries and therefore served as valid controls for comparison purposes.

Nominal linear density of yarns. The size or coarseness of a yarn is measured in units of mass per unit length. The higher the value in decitex (dg/km) the heavier or coarser the yarn. Lengths of yarn exceeding 1 m were removed from both directions of each virgin prosthesis and extended on a crimp tester to remove the residual crimp. Having determined the straightened length, the specimens were weighed on an analytical balance to the nearest 0.01 mg. The linear density of each was calculated and rounded to the nearest nominal value. Waterpermeability. The flow rate of water through a 1 cm* area of the dry prosthetic wall mounted flat with the crimps removed under an applied pressure head of 120 mm Hg is defined as the water permeability of the prosthesis. (This term is sometimes incorrectly referred to as ‘water porosity’ in the medical literature.) The volumes of water that flowed through five specimens of each virgin prosthesis were collected and measured during the first 5 min of the standard test method*. The mean values after the first minute were calculated and recorded.

In vitro evaluation Surface morphology. The virgin prostheses were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Small samples were exposed to osmium tetroxide vapours after being mounted on stubs, and coated with gold-palladium to improve their electron conduction before SEM examination in a Jeol JSM35CF scanning electron microscope (Soquelec, Montreal, QC, Canada) at an accelerating voltage of 15 kV. These observations provided information about the type of yarn and construction of the woven fabrics. Details of the weaves have been represented by point and cross-sectional diagrams to show the sequence of yarn interlacements. Woven fabric count. A measure of the tightness of a woven structure is given by its woven fabric count which indicates the frequency of yarns lying in the warp and weft directions. By viewing the prostheses flattened between glass slides through an optical microscope at 20 times magnification, the average number of warp yarns (ends) per cm width and the average number of weft yarns (picks) per cm length were counted. Porosity. The porosity of the virgin prostheses, which refers to the proportion of void space or pores within the wall of the graft compared with its total volumeg, was calculated using the following equation: M 1000 hd,

1

where P is the percentage porosity, M is the mass per unit area of the prosthetic wall (g/m’), h is the thickness of the wall (mm) and df is the density of the polyester fibres (assumed to be 1.38 g/cm3). The values for M and h were determined experimentally using standard test methodssZg. Fibre diameter. Individual fibres were removed from both directions of each virgin prosthesis and the diameter of at least 20 fibres selected at random was measured using an optical microscope at 400 times magnification with a micrometer eyepiece previously calibrated against a stage micrometer. The level of delusterant particles incorporated into the fibres during spinning was also observed using light field microscopy.

336

Eiomaterials

199 1, Vol 12 April

Bursting strength. Measurements of bursting strength of the virgin prostheses were undertaken using a HoffmanTurner probe tester in a compression cell mounted on an lnstron Model 1 130 tensile tester*. Five specimens of each prosthesis were mounted one at a time with their crimps removed over the 8.1 mm diameter hole using a rubber O-ring of diameter 12.6 mm. A 6.4 mm diameter cylindrical probe with a hemispherical end was forced through the clamped specimen at a constant rate of 100 mm/min. The mean bursting strength (N) was calculated by averaging the five measured maximum values of force. Level of extractable material. The quantification of extractable finishes and contaminants present on the surface of the virgin prostheses was undertaken using established standard procedures fortextile products”. Approximately 2 g samples of each prosthesis were exposed to a series of multiple quantitative extractions in different solvents involving at least five syphoning cycles of each in a Soxhlet apparatus. The sequence of solvents was as follows: trichloroethylene, ethanol, acetone, water, 0.1 N hydrochloric acid. The mass of each extract was determined gravimetrically following evaporation of the respective solvent to dryness. The level of extractable material was expressed as a percentage of the mass of the original sample.

In vivu evaluation Animal selection and preparation. Twenty healthy mongrel dogs weighing 14-30 kg were selected according to either the Chinese Medical Academy Regulations on Animal Care (Shanghai experiments) or the Regulations of the Canadian Council on Animal Care (Quebec experiments), i.e. only animals having normal haematology and blood biochemistry were selected. Before operation, each animal was starved for 24 h. Anaesthesia was induced with intravenous administration of sodium pentobarbital at a dose of 30 mg/kg. If required, supplemental anaesthesia was assumed by administering fluothane. The abdomen was shaved and the skin cleaned with antiseptics. Throughout the operation, the temperature of each dog was maintained at 37-38°C with a heating blanket.

Polyester

Implantation infrarenal

protocol.

A laparotomy

aorta was dissected

dog was administered

intravenous

heparin

3 min later, the abdominal

et al

graft

from

at a dose of 0.5-

aorta was clamped

aortic clamps and a short segment A sterile filamentous

was preclotted”

and anastomosed

arterial replacement

woven

The diameters

6, 7 or 8 mm depending was then closed

polypropylene

monofilament

was returned

as an

monofilament

of the prosthesis

selected

on the size of the host artery.

The abdomen

Antibiotics

of the

prosthesis

termino-terminally

using a 5-O polypropylene

(Prolene@) suture.

diet.

Rae

and the

aorta was resected.

The animal

TJ.

below the renal arteries to the

with two atraumatic

were

prosthes,s:

A few lumbar arteries were ligatured. The

aortic trifurcation. 1.5 mg/kg;

was performed

artenal

in layers using either

a 2-O

(Prolene@) or a 1-O silk suture.

to its cage and fed an unrestricted

were

administered

daily

for

5 d

post-

operatively. Graft harvesting.

The prescheduled

periods

of implantation

varied from 4 h to 12 month

with sacrifices

4 h, 1 wk, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

and 12 month. At sacrifice,

animal

was

reanaesthetized

heparin

was

administered

grafts were explanted host arteries. with

They

heparinized

Examination healing

(4

intravenously

were

opened

physiologic

of explanted

were

taken

at three

and distal anastomotic solution

histopathology,

fibres

and

Fjgure

1

SEM

photomicrograph

(a, internal;

6, external

of the soft

filamentous

woven

surfaces).

standard

regions and

Following

and

fixation

embedding

using haematoxylin

staining

of

series of

China

or Epon resin, light microscopic

elastic

the extent

was performed.

region of the graft.

routine

The

and rinsed

the following

paraffin for

mg/kg).

To evaluate

buffered

trichrome

and

of the adjoining

neutral

were undertaken

the

room

longitudinally

grafts.

sections

sites: the proxtmal the central

(0.5

after

saline.

prostheses,

examinations

Histological

operating

with a few millimetres

of the explanted

microscopic

in the

occurring

in a

in either

examinations

and eosin staining

Masson’s

or

for collagen,

Verhoeff’s

Gordon-Sweet

stain

Mallory’s stain

for

for

reticular

fibres.

(b)

For scanning

electron

microscopy

were fixed in 2% glutaraldehyde

(SEM),

buffered

cut into small pieces, rinsed and post-fixed tetroxide.

Dehydration

ethanol,

followed

CO, as the transfer

was

observed

(cl

Those

point drying

medium.

The specimens

flow

that

surface

stereomicroscope

exhibited were

after

surface

microscope a

at a

smooth

examined

staining

nitrate and with haematoxylin observation

were then

and the luminal

5CF electron

graded

using liquid

voltage.

specimens

glistening

in

by critical

in a Jeol JSM-3

15 kV accelerating

in osmium

performed

coated with gold-palladium’*

samples

solution and

with

and

with

a light

0.3%

silver

and eosin. This facilitated

of the nuclear contour and cellular detail of

any endothelial-like

cells on the luminal

surface.

RESULTS In vitro Woven

structure.

Chinese seen

graft rather

woven

Chinese

The most unique

is its highly

in Figure

weave models

Figure

evaluation

7. The than

(Figure

graft 2).

structure

the

plain

and the

The

feature

filamentous

of the prototype

surface

incorporates

weave

found

traditional

differences

texture a 4/l

in the North

between

as

satin regular

American the

woven

2

SEM

photomicrograph

of the

6. external

surfaces).

designs

are seen in Figures

point diagrams Chinese three

woven

structure

supposing

Double

control

The point diagram

Cooley

Verisoft

3, 4 and 5, which

and cross-sectional

graft, the Woven

regular

Woven

illustrate

the

views of the filamentous Velour graft and the other

grafts

respectively.

represents

the luminal

it were

fa, internal;

a balanced

&omatenals

199

weave

1. Vol

view of the containing

12 Apnl

337

Polyester arterial prosthesis: T.J. Rao et al.

Figure 4 graft

Figure 3 Point diagram woven graft from China.

and cross-sectional

thickness and porosity were the highest. Indeed, this was the highest porosity value ever measured on a woven polyester prosthesis in our laboratoriesg. In this respect, it closely resembles that of velour knitted structures.

view of soft filamentous

black warp yarns and white weft yarns. The cross-sectional diagrams show how the first 10 warp yarns interlace starting with the extreme left-hand end. The long warp floats on the internal surface of the filamentous Chinese graft are clearly evident in Figure 3. This bears some similarity to the alternating 6/4 satin and l/l plain weave of the Meadox Woven Double Velour graft (Figure 4), except that the latter contains long warp floats on both internal and external surfaces. Tab/e 7 highlights other unique features of this graft, namely its light weight, loose, thick, open and porous structure. With only 45 ends per cm, the structure was not tightly packed. Consequently, the mass per unit area (or weight) was the lowest of all five grafts tested, while the Table 1

Type

Yarn structure. As well as having a satin weave, the Chinese filamentous graft was produced from texturized rather than flat yarns. Both warp and weft yarns were finer than those in the other four grafts, i.e. they had lower linear density (Tab/e 2). At the same time, the filaments that made up the yarn bundle were fewer in number (only 20) and thicker in diameter (20.9 pm) than in the four controls. This resulted in a more loosely packed yarn bundle and a more pronounced velour surface. Physical properties. The bursting strength of the Chinese filamentous prosthesis was considerably lower than that of any of the control grafts (Tab/e 3). Indeed, the value of 7 1 N

Characteristics of the woven fabric structure

of weave

Ends per cm satin

Filamentous

Regular

Soft

Cooley

Meadox

woven

woven

Woven

Verisoft

Woven

Chinese

Chinese

De&key

4/l

l/l

l/l

satin

total per

cm

Mass per unit area Thickness (mm)

plain

plain

Double

l/l

plain

45

plain

Picks

Point diagram and cross-sectional view of Woven Double Velour

(g/m’)

Porosity

(%)

338

Biomaterials

satln

l/l

plain

36 52

58

36

45

49

52

58

72

62

27

32

35

38

154

152

184

200 0.39

78.3

199 1, Vol 12 April

6/4

49

117

0.28 48.3

0.26 57.1

0.27 59.2

Velour

0.32 58.3

+

Polyester

Table 2

Type

artenal

prosthesis-

TJ.

Rao et al

Yarn character/sties

of multlfllament

Fllamentous

Regular

SOfl

Cooley

Meadox

woven

wove”

Woven

Verlsoft

Woven

Chinese

Chmese

DeBakey

texturized

flat

texturlzed

Double

Velour

yam

warp

flat

flat + texturtzed

weft

texturlzed

flat

texturlzed

flat

flat + texturlzed

Nommal

Itnear

density

(dtex)

warp

88

250

170

190

105

weft

88

250

170

100

105+

Filament

+ 120 120

count

warp

20

96

108

108

54

+ 54

weft

20

96

108

54

54

+ 54

Filament

diameter

(,um) 20.9

warp

+ 1.6

15.7

+ 0.5

11.6

+ 1.1

1 0.5

13.0

’ 0.7 + 0.6 1 0.8 1 0.4

13.5 14.4

20.9

weft

+ 2.3

1 1.5

15.9

f

12.5

1.2

13.3

0.5

13.5 14.4

Delusterant

level

warp

semldull

semldull

bright

semldull

weft

semldull

semldull

bright

semldull

semldull semtdull semldull semldull

Table 3

Water

Physical

properties

permeabtllty

Bursting

(ml/mln

cm’)

Regular

Soh

Cooley

Meadox

woven

Woven

Verisoh

Woven

Chmese

Chinese

DeBakey

4200

strength

is outslde knitted

the range normally

prostheses

developed

was considerably

94

-t2

expected

of the strengths

Table 3 also shows

407

for a woven

of the former

216

i

366

+ 8

graft and

the normal

range expected and high water

properties

can be explained

structure,

namely

the

in terms

combination

texturized

yarns

value

for a woven permeability

of the graft’s of a satin

in both

In vim

38

181 211

warp

unique

weave and

and weft

Grafts

prescheduled

periods

the

operation

mentous

were

without

prosthesis

difficulty

encountered

despite

a little bleeding

in the remaining

Chinese

As shown

grafts had higher levels of extractable

five solvents

than the two North

American

This suggests that the manufacturing employed

in China were

the North

American

Table 4

in Table 4, both

Levels

different

medical

of extractable

materials controls

device

prescribed

industry.

dogs for the

to

The

Chinese

install,

and

fila-

the

only

was when one prosthesis

to fray. Haemostasis

was easily achieved

in six cases and marginal

blood loss

14 cases (Tab/e 5). completed

their prescheduled

At the sacrifice,

had been implanted

for 2 month,

Implan-

all grafts but one, were

patent.

in all

tested.

practices and conditions from those

which

easy

in handling

a tendency

in 20

in Table 5. All dogs survived

complications. was

showed

All the animals

material.

276

implanted

indicated

tation period uneventfully. of extractable

I 18 44

395

evaluation

implantations.

directions. Level

+ 21 t 13

Velour

lightweight

permeability

These low strength

use of fine

+ 10

in the 1 960s13.

that the water

Double

+ 11

higher than those of the other prostheses

and in fact IS outside prosthesisg.

+ 300

71

is reminiscent

the

Filamentous woven

by

Pathology

of explanted

microscopic evidence Chinese

grafts.

examinations

of the

rate and

filamentous

The

histological

of the explanted sequence

of the

grafts

and other provided

healing

of the

prosthesis.

material

Fllamentous

Regular

Soft

Cooley

woven

woven

Woven

Verlsoh

Chinese

Chinese

DeBakey

trichloroethylene

0.76

0.70

0.42

ethanol

0.04

0.18

0.05

0.12

acetone

0.09

0.04

0.02

0.00

Loss

in mass

sequent0

(%,) following

extractlon

I”:

water 0.1 Total

N hydrochlortc

acid

0.59

0.09

0.03

0.00

0.00

0.13

0.18

0.00

0.00

1.1 1

1.13

0.49

0.71

Biomatenals

199 1, Vol

12 Apnl

339

Polyester

arterial prosthesis:

T.J. Rao et al.

Figure 6 Photomicrographs of histological sections through explanted graft wall after 2 month of implantation. (a) A compact thrombotic matrix is seen beneath the luminal lining (Massonb trichrome, original magnification x 180). (6) Extensive collagen penetration between polyester filaments (Masson’s tnchrome, original magnification x 280).

After one week, the thickness and cellular concentration of the thrombotic matrix had been reduced by the host’s fibrinolytic reaction. term. One month post-operatively the luminal surface of three of the four dogs appeared smooth and glistening in the region adjacent (6-l 3 mm) to the proximal and distal anastomoses. By 2 month, the smooth and glistening appearance extended almost the entire length of the graft. The original thrombotic matrix was much more compact and was now covered with an inner lining (Figure 6a). Staining with Masson’s trichrome showed extensive infiltration of collagen into the graft wall (Figure 66). Specimens stained with silver nitrate exhibited a Medium

Figure 5 Point diagram and cross-sectional with l/l plain weave.

view of regular woven grafts

term. After only 4 h of implantation, the luminal surface was covered by a thick adherent layer of unorganized thrombotic matrix, incorporating red blood cells and fibrin which penetrated the porous wall of the textile structure.

Short

Table 5

In viva evaluation:

observed haemostasis

and patency Evaluation at harvesting

Scheduled duration of implantation

Number of animals

None

Marginal

Little

Patent

Stenosed

Thrombosed

4h 1 wk 1 month 2 month 4 month 5 month 6 month 7 month 8 month 12 month

2 1 4 3 2 3 2 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1

0 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

2 1 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

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Biomaterials

199 1. Vol 12 April

Bleeding at implantation

Polyester artenal prosthesIs: TJ Rae et al

polygonal pattern of fusiform cells (Figure 7). SEM observations confirmed the presence of endothelial-like cells in the vicinity of the anastomoses, whereas no evidence of cellular development was found in the central regions of the explants (Figure 8a and b). By one month, the subendothelial layer incorporated a certain degree of vascularization as well as the ingrowth of reticularfibres (Figure 9). Observations of the explanted prostheses after 4- 12 month in vivo showed more extensive tissue infiltration and a smooth and glistening flow surface throughout the length of the graft. Mallory’s trichrome staining confirmed the absence of any remaining thrombotic matrix after 6 month or longer (Figure 70a). Indeed, the subendothelial layer of abundant collagenous fibres showed no evidence of

Long term.

Figure 9 Photomicrograph of histological section through explanted graft wall after 1 month of implantation showing infiltratIon of reticular fibres between polyester filaments (Gordon-Sweet stain, onginal magnification x 180).

tissue degeneration even after 12 month of implantation. Instead, elastic fibres and smooth muscle cells were confirmed with Verhoeff’s staining (Figure 106).

DISCUSSION The earliest synthetic materials used in the successful reconstruction and bypass of peripheral vessels were woven textile fabrics14. While not emanating from careful scientific studies, these early pioneering efforts were serendipitous in Figure 7 Photomicrograph of en facepreparation stainedwith silvernitrate showing the cellular detail of endothelial-like cells on the luminal surface after 2 month in viva (original magnification x280/.

Figure8 SEM photomicrographs of luminal surface of explants after 2 month I” vim (aJ Region nearproximal anastomosis showing endotheliallike cells (original magnification x 18OJ. (bJ Central region of graft showing an absence of cellular growth (original magnification x 18OJ.

Figure 10 Photomicrographs of histological sections through explanted graft wall after 6 month of implantation. faJ Complete resolution of the thrombotic matrix is observed (Mallory’s trichrome, orlgmal magnification xZZOJ. (bJ Elastic fibres laminated between smooth muscle cells were observed in the neomedia (Verhoeff‘s stain, original magnification x280).

&omatenals

199 1, Vol 12 April

341

Polyester

arterial

prosthesis:

TJ.

Rao et al.

developing a functional and durable conduit of polyester (Dacron@) yarns woven in a plain taffeta weave15. What is particularly impressive about this type of prosthesis is that today, 35 years later, it is still being used extensively by vascular surgeons all over the world. In spite of its evident clinical success, the plain woven Dacron graft has three limitations which are related to its particular type of fabric construction, and which have been responsible for certain complications and long-term failures16. These shortcomings are:

01

(ii)

(iii)

The tightness of the woven construction with the yarns jammed so closely together prevents the infiltration of fibrous tissue, hence slowing the rate and limiting the extent of the healing process. The smooth interior flow surface of the woven taffeta construction does not permit strong attachment of the thrombotic matrix or reorganized neointima which have a tendency to detach and form emboli. The tightly woven construction is also responsible for a rigid prosthesis with limited compliance and flexibility. This stiffness impairs the handling characteristics of the graft and makes it more difficult to suture.

The following discussion is an attempt to explain how the recent Chinese polyester arterial prosthesis with its novel filamentous woven design addresses these deficiencies.

Porosity

and the healing

process

It has long been recognized that the rate and extent of tissue incorporation during healing is directly related to the level of physical porosity within the graft wal116-1s. The presence of pores or void space within the wall ensures that the surrounding capsules of connective tissue maintain their viability through capillary regeneration and adequate blood supply. The porosity value of 78.3% for the filamentous Chinese graft is extremely high. In fact, it is the highest value for a woven prosthesis ever measured in our laboratoryg. It is therefore not surprising to find histological evidence for rapid healing with vascularization, proliferation of fibroblasts and infiltration of collagen within the first 2 month of implantation. The presence of elastic fibres and smooth muscle cells is no doubt due to the mechanical stimulation caused by the pulsatile blood flow. Other in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that repeated stretching of arterial smooth muscle cells can initiate the synthesis of elastin’g-2’. While this novel Chinese design appears to enhance the rate of tissue infiltration, no evidence was found in this study to indicate improved endothelial coverage of the luminal surface. This was likely due to the limitation of endothelial cells to regenerate or to the inadequacy of the luminal surface to support the growth and migration of endothelium22,23. The observed cellular growth near the anastomoses was similar to that observed with other polyester (Dacron) vascular prostheses24, and because the origin of the cells and the mechanism which governs their shape and contour is still subject to controversy, we refer to these cells as ‘endothelial-like’ rather than ‘endothelium’25‘27.

Water

permeability

and haemostasis

The creation of a more loosely woven structure by using fewer yarns in the warp direction (ends), a finer yarn (lower

342

Biomaterials

199 1, Vol

12 April

linear density) and weaving a satin rather than a taffeta plain weave, will inevitably lead to a prosthesis with a high water permeability. Indeed, this is the case with the filamentous Chinese graft which has a particularly high water permeability value for a woven prosthesisg. This information in turn alerts the surgeon to the essential need for preclotting before installation. The results from this animal study have demonstrated that this particular prosthesis is easy to preclot, and that despite some blood oozing at the time of implantation, control over blood loss is readily achieved. No evidence of delayed haemorrhaging or transinterstitial bleeding during implantation was observed as has been the experience with certain very porous knitted grafts such as Microknit, which gave a 75% incidence of haemorrhage when implanted for periods of 7-35 d in dogs’*. This is an important observation since the canine model is known to have an active fibrinolytic system and insufficient reserves of fibrinogen to tolerate extended demands during the post-operative period**. Nevertheless, the filamentous Chinese graft appears to have an appropriate construction to ensure long-term haemostasis even though excessive fibrinolytic activity during the first few days after implantation may re-expose the thrombogenic polyester filaments to blood.

Adherence

of thrombotic

matrix

The unique satin weave of the filamentous Chinese graft with its long floats of texturized polyester yarn on the luminal surface provides an attractive rough or undulating profile to ensure the adherence of a thick, uniform and continuous layer of thrombotic matrix. This should be distinguished from the uneven, thick pile surfaces presented by certain knitted velour grafts, which have been observed to generate a very thick and uneven thrombotic matrix which subsequently forms a thick neointima and tends to cause graft stenosis24,2g. Certain knitted velour prostheses have also been known to leave exposed filament loops, or unincorporated ‘cilia’, projecting into the lumen even after several months of implantation3’, 31. Traditional smooth-walled woven polyester prostheses with a taffeta construction have been associated with problems of detachment of the inner and outer capsules in vivo 32-34. The Chinese filamentous graft does not appear prone to such problems. Our pathological results show that a strong and intimate bond is formed between the textile structure and the surrounding tissue capsules.

Handling

and suturability

An inevitable outcome of using a satin weave with fewer interlacements (crossover points between warp and weft yarns) is that the stiffness of the textile structure will be reduced and the bending, shearing and buckling characteristics increased35. This tendency is made more pronounced by using fewer warp yarns lying lengthwise around the circumference of thegraft. Such a loosely constructed weave provides the surgeon with excellent handling properties and a prosthesis that is soft, compliant, flexible and easy to suture.

long-term

durability

in vim

We have previously commented on the need for vascular prostheses to maintain their bursting strength over extended periods of implantation’3, 3o.This is particularly important for polyester prostheses which have been found to lose up to 25% of their initial strength after about 162 month in vivo36.

Polyester

Since

this animal

only

1 yr, additional

using

animal

study

involved

models

commenting

or

on the

filamentous

implantation

longer-term in

vitro

long-term

density

than that found

it produces

strength

Secondly,

with

a few

thick

we suspect

woven

structures,

filaments.

Since contains

the

A.D..

Surg

of this

strength

distance

from

Chinese

10

11

this

that surgeons

and hence

reduce

VA,

CONCLUSION

woven

represents

a new

high

permeability,

water

essential,

yet once

haemostasrs, neointima with

preclotting

installed,

and

external

woven

lightweight

durability

before

capsule

than

additional

On

III textlIes: Amencan

Research

Triangle

Yates,

animal

to assess

16

S.G

grafts’

17

18

long-term

P.. C&B,

vascular

prostheses

19

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Research

Council

Recherche

of Canada

(Universite S.

D. Mattel

and L. Martin

their

gratitude

C. Gosselin, guidance. Ethicon, and

Bourassa,

K.

The

gifts

Hanburys,

The technical t-lorth,

D. Gagnon,

E. Huebner

D.

of surgical

are gratefully

and

21

Medical

Special

de la

assistance

of J.

King.

M.W..

Deterlmg.

and

i.e. sutures from

suitable

D.E

Szllagyl,

from

23

24

Allen

J.H.

Rouleau

C.. Garneau.

Ma/ 2

vast

Eastcott r

P.. Noel.

H.P

terephtalate 1980,

(Dacron”)

and

Gosseltn. Blats,

comme

P,

C.. Las

substltuts

Marr~n.

protheses arter~els.

L

Fry, W.J..

I”

J

5. 3-12

Vascular

Gerrlty,

(Eds

P.N.

Sawyer

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Techmcal

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D

L.R., 1978,

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