Evaluation of a Polyepoxy Compound Fixed Biological Vascular Prosthesis and an Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Vascular Graft.

Antithrombogenicity is one essential requirement for the successful use of small caliber vascular prostheses. In this study, a polyepoxy compound fixed, heparinized 4 mm diameter Baxter Denaflex vascular graft was evaluated against a 4 mm diameter Gore-Tex expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular graft in the canine model. In addition to the thromboresistant characteristic conferred by heparinization, the crosslinking agent allowed the Denaflex graft to retain the original color of the native artery. Six centimeter long graft segments were implanted into the carotid arteries bilaterally in 5 dogs. The patency rate at 3 months for the Denaflex graft was 100% (five out of five) whereas in the control ePTFE graft, it was 40% (two out of five). The explanted Denaflex grafts exhibited softness and flexibility, and their luminal surfaces maintained a white color like that before implantation. To the contrary, the patent ePTFE grafts felt hard, and red thrombi covered large portions on their inner surfaces. Under microscopic observation, neointima formation was limited to regions near the anastomotic sites for both types of grafts. This experiment showed that the Denaflex vascular graft has an excellent antithrombogenic property and has a compliance similar to native arteries.