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Comparative Study
. 2014 Aug;44(8):1542-7.
doi: 10.1007/s00595-013-0761-8. Epub 2013 Oct 20.

The in vitro research of bacterial invasion of prosthetic vascular grafts: comparison of elastomer-sealed and gelatin-coated Dacron vascular grafts

Yuki Sasaki  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The in vitro research of bacterial invasion of prosthetic vascular grafts: comparison of elastomer-sealed and gelatin-coated Dacron vascular grafts

Yuki Sasaki. Surg Today. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the process of bacterial invasion from the surface to inside prosthetic vascular grafts.

Methods: Elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular grafts (ESDVGs) and gelatin-coated Dacron vascular grafts (GCDVGs) were cut into 6-cm segments and placed in a U-shaped configuration on culture plates. Physiological saline was poured inside the grafts and a suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was added to the outside. Samples taken from inside the grafts at nine time points for up to 60 h were spread on agar. Bacterial colonies were then analyzed. The grafts were also examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results: Contaminated vascular graft models were produced in 18 ESDVGs (group T) and 12 GCDVGs (group G). The bacterial counts inside the vascular grafts in both groups increased over time. Bacterial colonies were confirmed in all samples from group G by 30 h, whereas bacteria appeared inside the grafts from group T at various times between 0 and 60 h. Bacteria were undetectable in one model from group T throughout the study. SEM revealed that the elastomeric membrane in the ESDVG was uneven.

Conclusion: Bacterial invasion of vascular grafts does not always occur immediately after contamination. ESDVGs may be more resistant to bacterial invasion as they have a thicker and evenly enriched elastomeric membrane.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Establishment of contaminated vascular graft models
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Vertical axis shows ratio of models in which bacteria were undetectable inside vascular grafts. The horizontal axis shows elapsed time. Bacteria were detected inside grafts in all models of group G (GCDVG group) by 30 h. Bacteria were undetectable throughout the study in one model from group T (ESDVG group). However, log-rank test did not reveal any significant differences between the two groups
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Scanning electron microscopy finding of sterile gelatin-coated Dacron vascular graft. Short-axis view of gelatin-coated Dacron vascular graft shows woven Dacron structure (magnification ×50). b Scanning electron microscopy finding of sterile elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular graft. Short-axis view of elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular graft shows unique three-layer structure comprising a central elastomeric membrane sandwiched between layers of knitted Dacron (magnification ×50)
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a Scanning electron microscopy findings of sterile elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular grafts. Short-axis views at ×300 (left) and ×200 (right) magnification show uneven thickness of elastomeric membrane. Arrows: a, 50 μm; b, 150 μm; c, 2 μm; d, 300 μm. b Scanning electron microscopy findings of sterile elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular grafts. Short-(left) and long-(right) axis views at magnification of ×200 and ×300, respectively, show defects in elastomeric membrane (arrows)
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
a Scanning electron microscopy views of gelatin-coated Dacron vascular graft after immersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspension for 60 h. There are long-axis views of the fragment of gelatin-coated Dacron vascular graft at magnification of ×270 (left) and ×1000 (right). Many bacteria are evident in gaps between graft fibers at ×1000 magnification. b Scanning electron microscopy views of elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular graft after immersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspension for 60 h. There are short-axis views of elastomeric membrane in fragment of elastomer-sealed Dacron vascular graft at magnification of ×1500 (left) and ×4000 (right). Bacteria are evident in elastomeric membrane (arrows)
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