Sugarcane biopolymer patch in femoral vein angioplasty on dogs

Abstract

To evaluate the use of the sugarcane biopolymer membrane in femoral vein patch angioplasty on dogs. Eight dogs were submitted to bilateral femoral vein patch angioplasty with a sugarcane biopolymer membrane patch on one side and an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) patch on the contralateral side. This research was performed at Experimental Surgical Research Laboratory of the Centro de Ciências da Saúde at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. The dogs underwent new surgery at 180 days after the patch angioplasty in order to harvest the femoral vein. All the animals were evaluated by clinical examination, measure of femoral vein diameter, venogram, and Doppler fluxometry. The material harvested was sent for histologic study. Each animal served as its own control. In all veins of both groups, there were no cases of infection, rupture, or pseudoaneurysm formation and thrombosis. In both groups, a chronic inflammatory reaction was observed, with lymphocytes, neutrophils, and fibrosis in the outer surface of the patches. Fibrosis was seen in the inner surfaces of all the patches. In e-PTFE patches, invasion by fibroblasts occurred. The sugarcane biopolymer membrane can be used as a patch in femoral vein angioplasty on dogs. The sugarcane biopolymer membrane is easily synthesized with a low cost of production. This membrane has been used in many areas of experimental surgery as in the healing of skin wounds, in urinary reconstruction, in reconstruction of tympanic membrane, and as an arterial substitute, but there is no report of its use as a vein substitute. In order to evaluate the possibility of using the sugarcane biopolymer membrane in venous reconstructive surgery, this study analyzed its utilization in femoral vein patch angioplasty.