Microvascular polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses: the cellular events of healing and prostacyclin production.

This study was undertaken to obtain more insight into the morphologic and functional performance of microvascular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prostheses. Therefore, both the cellular events of healing (n = 30) and the prostacyclin production (n = 18) of microvascular polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses (length 10 mm, internal diameter 1.5 mm) were evaluated from 1 hour up to 3 months after implantation into the abdominal aorta of rats. After implantation, the graft surface became scarcely covered with platelets. From 1 week onward, endothelial cells originating from the anastomotic sides grew in over the graft surface, covered only about half the prostheses after 3 months of implantation, but did produce normal amounts of prostacyclin as compared to normal endothelium. Only near the anastomotic sides one to two layers of smooth-muscle-like cells developed underneath the neoendothelial lining. Perigraft tissue ingrowth into the wall of the polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses was scarce. The overall patency rate was 98 percent. It was concluded that optimalization of the healing characteristics of microvascular polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses may provide a prosthesis that is more suitable for clinical microsurgery.