[Scanning electron microscopy study of autologous fascia lata and bovine xenograft as arterial prosthesis. An experimental study].

The present communication deals with the decomposition of thrombi and the formation of an endothelium in two different vascular prothesis. Devitalized bovine arteries which were enzymatically reduced to a collagen reticulum, and tubes made of autologous fascia lata were implanted into the arterial bloodstream of dogs. The implants were left in place for a time ranging between 30 min and four months. They were examined by scanning electronmicroscope with the cortical point method. This enabled us to reach the following conclusions: unprepared autologous fascia lata implanted into the arterial bloodstream has much more thrombogenous qualities than solcograft. The decomposition of thrombi and the formation of an endothelium is much faster accomplished in fascia lata than in the devitalized bovine artery. It is not possible to distinguish solcograft and fascia lata by the formation of endothelium only.