Experimental evaluation of three biomaterials for replacement of the pulmonary artery branches

24 adult dogs were randomly divided into 4 groups and submitted to angioplastic replacement of a 2- to 3-cm segment of the right or left pulmonary artery by three kinds of autogenous biomaterials; azygous vein, jugular vein and pericardium, and by a synthetic arterial prosthesis in a control group. In vivo evaluation was carried out by catheterization with a balloon catheter allowing successive intraluminal occlusion of the pulmonary branches, and by cineangiopneumography. There was a good correlation between evaluation techniques. Final evaluation after a follow-up of 5-20 months was based on postmortem measurement of the anastomosis diameter and histologic examination. In each group, the results were classified into four grades, numbered 0-3, and compared statistically. The results show that in this experimental model: (a) none of the autogenous tissues (selected for their potential ability to grow) proved better than the control Dacron arterial prosthesis, and (b) of the three biomaterials, the azygous vein was superior to the jugular vein and pericardium.