Another look at the Sparks-Mandril arterial graft precursor for vascular repair. - Pathology by scanning electron microscopy.

The Sparks-Mandril blood vessel precursor system, an autogenous tissue growth-promoting device, in spite of its ingenuity and its surgical elegance, has received only limited usage. At technique for peripheral blood vessels by several authors. In the latter period, this laboratory also undertook similar work. The results of seven implantations in dogs and two in patients are reported here in the context of a program on the evaluation of blood vessel substitutes, their mode of operation and their long term performance. The clinical status and the pathology of the grafts at time of failure were investigated using techniques of scanning electron microscopy. This work confirms the findings of other centres regarding the generally unsatisfactory performance of the Sparks-Mandril system. Possible causes for failure in mandril-formed blood vessels are discussed.