Experimental studies on absorbable vascular grafts for microsurgery

In an experimental pilot study polyglycolic acid tubes in the rat were used as vessel grafts. 8 femoral arteries and 12 femoral veins were grafted in 15 animals, and followed up to 4 months. No artery was patent upon examination, while 6 out of 12 veins stayed open. A neointima was formed in the patent vessels and the vascular wall seemed to regenerate, while the tube graft was absorbed. It was concluded that, further developed, the polyglycolic acid tubes hold definite promise as instant and absorbable microvascular grafts.