[Polyethylene terephtalate (Dacron) prostheses as arterial substitutes. Value of commercial grafts as abdominal aorta substitutes in the dog (author's transl)].

Most of the presently available Dacron fabric grafts are either woven or knitted; some are velours. Whereas the various configurations and textures can be easily recognized and classified with respect to morphology, structure, porosity and fabric tenacity, it is also necessary to establish their post-implantation healing characteristics. Canine models have been used to investigate the healing characteristics of 18 types of prostheses over implantation periods from one to six months using techniques of scanning electron microscopy and conventional light microscopy. Velours exhibit superiar tissue ingrowth but the internal tissue lining does seldom embeds all of the fibres. Complete neoendothelialization is not achieved; the process appears more closely linked to haemodynamic factors such as shear forces acting postfacto on blood deposits as opposed to graft porosity facilitating ingrowth. More meaningful criteria of performance must be found to allow a closer matching between the available products and the individual clinical needs of each situation.