The unique micro porous structure of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) that allows bio-integration for fixation, as well as overall mechanical integrity make it used successfully in a number of biomedical and clinical applications, which include the reconstruction of the pulmonary valve in in right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (RVOT) operations. The objective of this study wa...

Atherosclerotic vascular disease, in the form of coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease, remains the leading cause of mortality in the United States. For many patients, suitable vein autografts are not available. Synthetic grafts made from Dacron (polyethylene terephthalate) or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) are mostly used in large-diameter (> 6 mm inner diameter) blood-vess...

The long-term success of an implant may be dependent on the production of a stable basement membrane and it may be desirable to reproduce the structure of healthy Bruch’s membrane. We hypothesise that the substrate surface chemistry will influence RPE extracellular matrix (ECM) production. The aim of this work was to investigate the distribution of ECM proteins produced by primary human RPE cel...

OBJECTIVES Although uncommon, prolonged postoperative air leaks are a troublesome complication of lung surgery. This study was performed to determine if buttressing pulmonary staple lines would reduce air leakage at varying airway pressures, and if there was a difference between buttressing materials. METHODS Using cadaver lungs, the development of air leak from staple lines was evaluated at ...

Chordal replacement with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sutures has proven to be a simple, versatile, and durable technique for the treatment of prolapsed cusps causing mitral valve regurgitation. ePTFE is known for its strong resistance to tension, and is judged to be unbreakable under physiological conditions. Herein are reported two cases of rupture of synthetic chordae tendineae; ...

The response of epicardial tissue to the implantation of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was evaluated and compared with identical material implanted within subcutaneous and adipose tissues. These two tissue environments were selected for comparison with epicardial implants because they represent tissue often involved in device implantation. Discs of ePTFE (6 mm) were implanted into th...

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) has been extensively used for facial soft tissue augmentation procedures, and is regarded as safe and reliable and suitable as a permanent implant. This implant is generally used in the lower third of the face for lips filling, nasal augmentation, nasolabial folds and chin augmentation, and rarely for congenital or acquired depressed deformities of the f...

BACKGROUND The patency of AV expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts for hemodialysis is impaired by intimal hyperplasia (IH) at the venous outflow tract. The absence of a functional endothelial monolayer on the prosthetic grafts is an important stimulus for IH. In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of capturing endothelial progenitor cells in vivo using anti-CD34 antibodie...

BACKGROUND Heart failure remains a significant problem. Tissue-engineered cardiac patches offer potential to treat severe heart failure. We studied an extracellular matrix scaffold for repairing the infarcted left ventricle. METHODS AND RESULTS Pigs (n=42) underwent left ventricular (LV) infarction. At 6 to 8 weeks, either 4-layer multilaminate urinary bladder-derived extracellular matrix or ...

OBJECTIVE To understand the cause of intermediate ePTFE graft failure when a venous boot is used. This might give insight into the improvement in patency that results from the use of a venous boot. DESIGN A histological and radiological study of failed and failing grafts. METHODS A review of patients operated upon in St Mary's Hospital under the care of a single consultant. RESULTS Four a...