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In vivo morphology of woven, collagen-sealed Dacron prostheses in the thoracic aorta
U Franke1, M J Jurmann, K Uthoff
1Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Radiological Center, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Background:
Long-term changes in knitted Dacron grafts inserted into the infrarenal aorta have been addressed by a number of studies indicating their potential for postoperative dilatation. In contrast, the behavior of woven, collagen-presealed, double-velour Dacron grafts used to replace the thoracic aorta is not known.
Methods:
Forty-five patients were examined at a mean of 32.4 +/- 14.8 months after insertion of woven, collagen-coated, Dacron double-velour prostheses (Meadox woven with Hemashield, Meadox, Oakland, NJ) in the thoracic position under highly standardized conditions using spiral computed tomography.
Results:
Compared with a manufactured diameter of 26 mm, all grafts showed an increase of 1 to 5 mm (mean, 3.0 +/- 1.2 mm [11.6% +/- 4.4%]; p < 0.0001) with greater enlargement of the ascending than of the descending aortic portions (p = not significant). A further statistically significant progressive dilatation failed to occur. Degenerative changes, including false aneurysm formation, could be excluded.
Conclusions:
Woven, collagen-coated Dacron prostheses are considered a safe replacement material for the thoracic aorta.