Evaluation of the thrombogenic potential of three types of arterial graft studied in an artificial circulation

The thrombogenic potential of woven Dacron, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) and gluteraldehyde-treated human femoral artery (HFA) grafts was evaluated using an artificial circulation. The differences in the platelet parameters (platelet count, adhesion and aggregation) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) appearances before and after perfusion were used as indices of thrombogenicity. Platelet counts fell significantly with woven Dacron, moderately with HFA and no fall was observed with Gore-Tex. Platelet aggregation was unaffected by any graft, but platelet retention was significantly marked in woven dacron. SEM studies revealed minimal adherence of platelets to Gore-Tex and HFA endothelium, but marked adherences to woven Dacron, accompanied by morphological changes of the adhered platelets. In an artificial circulation, of the three types of arterial graft, woven Dacron has the greatest influence on platelet function, indicating significant thrombogenicity, whereas HFA is intermediate in its effect and Gore-Tex appears to have the lowest thrombogenic potential.