LATE FIBER DETERIORATION IN DACRON ARTERIAL GRAFTS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 193  (4) , 477-491
Abstract
The occurrence of late fiber deterioration was examined in 493 Dacron arterial prostheses. Grafts implanted were of 4 types: 137 Meadox Wesolowski Weavenit (WN), 71 Golaski Microknit (MK), 70 USCI Sauvage external velor noncrimped (EVNC and 215 USCI Sauvage external velor random-crimped (EVRC). Prostheses were implanted for 3-15.3 yr; no defects were detected prior to 3 yr. Deterioration occurred in 15 of 493 grafts (mean incidence: 3%). Between 4.9 and 5.8% of patients had graft deterioration-nearly the same incidence in all 4 types of grafts. Deterioration consisted of thinning and breakage of yarn filaments, causing development of holes and, in some cases, graft dilatation. Dilatation did not always precede filament breakage. Broken filament ends were either tapered or square-ended, suggesting different modes of breakage. Tensile strength tests showed that fibers sometimes weakened nonuniformly within a specimen. Fiber breakage was associated with crimp ridges. Manufacturing variations probably reduce fiber resistance to mechanical fatigue. Other contributing factors may include storage conditions, sterilization methods handling and the degradative effects of tissue fluids and enzymes.