Electron microscopy study of a vascular prosthesis destructed in vivo reveals fractures in Dacron fibers.

We report a case of a 64-year-old male who had his 12-year-old femoropopliteal synthetic graft explanted due to two large pseudoaneurysms in the middle section of the graft. Microscopic evaluation demonstrated the areas of focal thinning along the entire prosthesis wall, with "foreign body" type reaction in the adjacent connective tissue. Transmission electron microscopy showed longitudinal fractures of Dacron fibers interposed with cellular structures, suggesting that destruction must have taken place significantly earlier. The problems of limited graft durability and graft surveillance are discussed.
PMID: 25957345 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Vascular - May 7, 2015 Category: Surgery Authors: Woźniak W, Olszewski W, Górski G Tags: Vascular Source Type: research