Experimental evaluation of small diameter synthetic arterial grafts.

Platelets labelled with Indium-111 were used to examine the in vivo thrombogenicity of different vascular grafts. The deposition of platelets in two partly different kinds of umbilical vein grafts, double velour Dacron grafts and double velour Dacron grafts with internal collagen was studied as a function of time. The grafts were inserted end to side in the femoral artery of pigs and then imaged for 120 minutes. Platelet distribution was also studied by in vitro static imaging. No difference was seen between the different umbilical vein grafts. The double velour grafts accumulated more platelets, the platelets mainly located in the midportion of the graft. The collagen-impregnated grafts occluded within 45 minutes.