Pseudointima in Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Graft Implanted in the Inferior Vena Cava of Normal and Defibrinogenated Dogs

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Abstract
The pseudointimal formation in an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft implanted in the canine inferior vena cava was studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Five of 6 grafts in the control group and all the 10 grafts in the batroxobin-defibrinogenated group were patent. The thickness of the mural thrombus formed within 3 days was significantly decreased in the severely defibrinogenated dogs in which the fibrinogen concentration was < 0.40 gm/l, as compared to the controls and the moderately defibrinogenated dogs, in which the fibrinogen concentration was at the highest, 0.72-0.87 gm/l. In spite of reducing the fibrinogen concentration to unmeasurable levels after 3 days, there was no obvious difference in the process of pseudointimal formation between the moderately defibrinogenated dogs and the controls. In the severely defibrinogenated dogs, loose and spongoid mural thrombus required a longer time to be reorganized.