[Evaluation of two commercial bovine vascular heterografts (author's transl)]

Two commercially available grafts made from chemically modified bovine carotif arteries, Artegraft (Surgikos Corp. U.S.A.) and Solcograft (Solco A.G. Switzerland), were evaluated. Preliminary evaluation indicates that these products compare favorably with other more common chemically treated grafts of biological origin. Morphological characteristics, inflammatory response and thrombogenic potential were measured. Their structure suggest that each of the processes conserve the collagen morphology of the media and the adventitia originally present in the precursor arteries. Test implantations in dogs reveal a tendency to undergo stenosis near the anastomoses within a few months. After six months of in-vivo function, these grafts are not invaded with the expected neo-formed cells and new collagen in their central portion; this process takes place only near the anastomoses.