Particles Found in Lung and Brain Following Subureteral Injection of Polytetrafluoroethylene Paste are not Teflon Particles

Abstract

We injected 0.3ml. of polytetrafluoroethylene paste (Polytef) behind the left submucosal ureter in 4 mini-pigs and 4 dogs, and 2 dogs and 2 mini-pigs underwent sham operation and acted as controls. Two mini-pigs were injected with 0.5ml. polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) suspended in 50ml. of normal saline into a peripheral vein and 2 dogs were injected with 0.5ml. polytetrafluoroethylene into a bladder vein. In addition, 4 dogs were injected with 0.1ml. polytetrafluoroethylene paste suspended in 20ml. saline into the right carotid artery. The lungs and brain from half of the animals who had subureteral and intravascular injection of polytetrafluoroethylene paste as well as sham operated animals were dissolved in sodium hypochlorite solution. The resulting organ suspensions were then centrifuged and the smear preparations of the precipitate were examined by polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. Polytetrafluoroethylene paste suspended in saline acted as positive control for polytetrafluoroethylene particles. Lungs and brain from the remaining animals were fixed in formalin solution. The brain and lungs of animals who underwent subureteral injection with a minimal amount of polytetrafluoroethylene paste carefully placed in the submucosal plane showed no evidence of polytetrafluoroethylene on histological examination, polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis.