The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 103, 1059-1067, Copyright © 1992 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Experimental comparison of albumin-sealed and gelatin-sealed knitted Dacron conduits. Porosity control, handling, sealant resorption, and healing
K Kadoba, FJ Schoen and RA Jonas
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Two high-porosity knitted Dacron vascular grafts sealed with aldehyde
cross-linked gelatin or albumin were compared with respect to the following
characteristics. Porosity control by the absorbable sealant was assessed
with a water porosity meter at 120 mm Hg pressure. Ease of suturing was
determined by an objective needle penetration test. Sealant resorption was
assessed histologically in a subcutaneous immature rat model as well as in
circulatory implants. Gross and microscopic healing characteristics were
compared in circulatory implants in the thoracic aorta of sheep with use of
a composite conduit in every animal, which allowed direct comparison of the
two graft materials and minimized differences in healing between individual
animals. Both grafts demonstrated excellent porosity control and better
handling characteristics than woven Dacron. Sealant resorption was
generally rapid, although residual albumin sealant was often seen adjacent
to anastomoses. Residual sealant appeared to result in focally poor healing
with focal loss of adhesion of surrounding tissue to graft. We conclude
that details of sealant preparation and application can importantly
influence the performance of presealed knitted Dacron grafts and should be
carefully evaluated in the laboratory before clinical implantation is
begun.
