AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 233, Issue 5 568-H572, Copyright © 1977 by American Physiological Society
Dynamic compliance of arterial grafts
R. N. Baird, I. G. Kidson, G. J. L'Italien and W. M. Abbott
A cantilever transducer has been developed which allows measurements of
diastolic diameter and diameter change in response to pulse pressure in
dissected blood vessels during sterile procedures. Preliminary results
indicate that it will detect subtle changes in wall elastic properties of
arterial grafts at subtle changes in wall elastic properties of arterial
grafts at and following implantation, which changes may influence graft
function. Compliance, the percentage change in volume per unit pressure,
was greater in normal canine femoral artery than in autogenous vein grafts
(AVG). Two new graft materials were tested. Mesh-covered modified human
umbilical cord vein (DBM) was similar in compliance to AVG but more
compliant than double-velour Dacron. Diastolic diameter changes were also
recorded. After 2 wk, all three graft materials had increased in diameter:
AVG by 8%, DBM by 6%, and Dacron by 5%. After 3 mo, AVG diameter increased
by 24%.
