Albuminated dacron protheses as improved blood vessel substitutes.

An improved vascular graft was achieved by treating knitted Dacron prostheses with cross-linked albumin. Eight segments, each six centimeters in length, were coated and implanted in the canine thoracic aorta for periods ranging from 24 hours to six months. The results were compared with the eight untreated grafts implanted for similar periods as control experiments. Albumin coating resulted in a faster healing : cells appeared earlier and collagen development was greater. The most beneficial effect of that treatment was the reduction in embolization, as shown by the considerable decrease in kidney damage.