Safety and durability of the biodegradable felt in aortic surgery: a propensity score-matched study

Suture line disruption is a serious complication after aortic surgery. We previously reported in a canine model that basic fibroblast growth factor-incorporated biodegradable polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt prevented tissue derangement at the anastomotic site. This study sought to evaluate the safety and durability of this biodegradable felt.

Between January 2007 and December 2011, 67 patients who consented to undergo aortic surgery with the basic fibroblast growth factor-incorporated PGA felt were enrolled (Group P). As a control, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of 129 patients who underwent aortic surgery using a polytetrafluoroethylene felt during the same registration period (Group N). On the basis of 18 preoperative covariates, 60 well-matched patient pairs were identified using propensity matching, and their clinical indices were compared.

Among the matched pairs, in-hospital mortality and postoperative complication rates did not statistically differ between the groups. During a median follow-up of 4.8 years, the rate of anastomotic aneurysm was 1.7% (1 patient) in both groups. The rates of overall survival and freedom from aortic events did not differ between the groups. In total, 65 anastomoses in Group P and 54 anastomoses in Group N were monitored via computed tomography, and the diameters of the juxta-anastomotic sites in Group N were more likely to be increased than those in Group P {dilatation ratio [(post-discharge diameter - predischarge diameter)/predischarge diameter × 100 (%)]: 4.3% ± 0.6% vs 2.5% ± 0.5%, P = 0.01}.

The basic fibroblast growth factor-incorporated PGA felt was as safe and durable as conventional felt for reinforcement in aortic surgery. The attenuation of juxta-anastomotic aortic dilatation by PGA felt reinforcement may provide more beneficial effects on long-term outcomes.