Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Issue: Volume 99(2), February 1997, pp 472-478 Copyright: ©1997American Society of Plastic Surgeons Publication Type: [Articles] ISSN: 0032-1052 Accession: 00006534-199702000-00024 [Articles] ◀ Previous Article | Table of Contents | Next Article ▶ Cell Adhesion and Short-Term Patency in Human Endothelium Preseeded 1.5-mm Polytetrafluoroethylene Vascular Grafts: An Experimental Study Gherardini, Giulio M.D.; Haegerstrand, Anders M.D., Ph.D.; Matarasso, Alan M.D.; Gurlek, Ali M.D.; Evans, Gregory R. D. M.D.; Lundeberg, Thomas M.D., Ph.D. Author Information Stockholm, Sweden, New York, N.Y., and Houston, Texas From the Departments of Plastic Surgery at the Karolinska Institute, the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Departments of Anatomy and Physiology and Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute. Department of Plastic Surgery; M. D. Anderson Cancer Center; 1515 Holcombe Boulevard; Houston, Texas 77030 Received for publication June 29, 1995; revised December 8, 1995. Presented at the New York Regional Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residents' Night Competition, receiving the Runnerup Prize, March 6, 1995. Abstract It has been shown that endothelialization improves short-term patency of 1.5-mm expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts. A model for endothelialization of 1.5-mm expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular grafts with human endothelial cells is described. In this model, the adherence of endothelial cells was increased significantly in grafts coated with serum proteins and collagen. By means of this protocol, graft patency was tested after implantation in two animal models: the rat aorta and the rabbit common carotid artery. Anastomosis was performed with a 3M Precise Microvascular Anastomotic Syst em. In both animal models, no significant loss of endothelial cells in the precoated grafts (rat, n = 8) were noted 1 hour after blood flow restoration. All uncoated grafts showed significant endothelial cell loss. In the rabbit model, all nonendothelialized grafts (n = 8) clotted 5 to 25 minutes after flow restoration. Seven (n = 8) endothelialized grafts showed no clotting during 1 hour's observation; one clotted immediately for a patency rate of 87.5 percent. These results indicate that endothelialization of 1.5-mm grafts is practical. Furthermore, adhesion of endothelial cells to the graft walls is not affected by short-term, pulsatile, high-pressure blood