EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE HISTOLOGIC FINDINGS OF THE NEOENDOTHELIALIZATION ACCORDING TO LENGTH OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the patency rates and the histologic findings of neoendothelialization according to the length of implanted polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with an internal diameter of 3 mm. Under the operating microscope, grafts of 8 and 24 mm in length were implanted in the right carotid arteries of rabbits. All implanted grafts were 25 μm in fibril length and 0.39 mm in wall thickness. All the grafts were harvested at different intervals and observed for the patency rates and histologic findings with light microscope and scanning electron microscope. There was no difference in patency rates according to the length of implanted PTFE. Histologically the formation of neointima and subintim was delayed and incomplete in longer implanted PTFE.