Microvascular repair with 1-mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts: effect of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on the patency rate and healing process

Microsurgery. 2000;20(7):324-30. doi: 10.1002/1098-2752(2000)20:7<324::aid-micr3>3.0.co;2-q.

Abstract

The present study assesses the effect of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) on the patency rate and healing process of microvascular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. Wistar rats were used, divided into four groups of 25 animals each. After dissection of the carotid artery a segment of the vessel, 1 cm long, was resected and replaced by equal length graft. Two different type fibril length (30- or 60-microm) grafts of the same wall thickness (0.18 mm) were used. Normal saline or 3 mg/kg of body weight of rt-PA was applied locally in each group of different fibril length grafts. Patency tests were performed at 15 min and 4 weeks after blood flow was reestablished. All grafts were harvested and examined histologically. The results showed that local application of rt-PA improves patency statistically significantly in both types of fibril length grafts. Patency in 60-microm fibril length grafts was statistically significantly higher than that of 30-microm fibril length grafts, whether rt-PA was used or not. The use of rt-PA had no influence on the healing process of either type of graft.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Male
  • Microsurgery*
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / pharmacology*
  • Vascular Patency / drug effects*
  • Vascular Surgical Procedures
  • Wound Healing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polytetrafluoroethylene
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator