The adhesion of labelled neutrophils on synthetic vascular grafts. An experimental porcine study.

The adhesion of neutrophils onto different vascular grafts was studied in vivo in a pig model. In acute experiments autologous 111In-labelled neutrophils were reinfused after end-to-side implantation of 5 cm, 6 mm internal diameter grafts. The dynamic deposition on each graft was determined for 300 min in vivo. Static measurements in vitro concluded the study. The adhesion was greater in Dacron and collagen coated Dacron grafts compared to expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to Dacron grafts coated with a polymer. The segmental activity along all the grafts increased towards the distal anastomosis. The results suggest different inflammatory response to various graft materials.