Absorbable material in vascular prostheses: a new device.

Seven to twenty cm long bypass grafts were inserted between the upper and lower part of the descending aorts of 20 young pids with end-to-side technique. The aorta between the anastomoses was closed by a ligature. As graft materials were used circular polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) mesh tubes (group I), external PTFE graft (Impra) and internal polyglactin mesh tube (group II), PTFE graft (group III) and external dacron mesh tube and internal polyglactin mesh tube (group IV). The biological process taking place in the grafted area was studied by light microscopy. The following observations were made: (1) The regenerative capacity of the pig aortic tissue permits 7 to 15 cm long polyglactin mesh grafts to be replaced by a new endothelialized vessel wall imitation. (2) When resorbable and non-resorbable materials were combined to form a composite graft (groups II and IV) the result proved to be a prosthesis with an internal covering of endothelialized arterial tissue.