Implantation of autologous tissue fragments in velour fabric used to line cardiovascular prostheses: An in vivo culture system to produce cellular blood–prosthesis interfaces

Previous observations of pseudointimal organization within impermeable cardiovascular prostheses indicated that rapid spontaneous healing was dependent upon proximity of host vascular tissue at the suture line. Autologous connective tissue fragments were prepared from skeletal muscle biopsies by blender‐mincing muscle tissue. The fragments were embedded in the fabric used to line the inner wall of arterial prostheses. A tightly fitting piston was drawn through the prosthesis, forcing the suspended tissue fragments to flow around the piston and become entwined in the loops of the velour fabric. The arterial prostheses prepared in this way were inserted as replacements for segments of canine abdominal aorta. This in vivo culture system supported cellular proliferation and pseudointimas healed uniformly. Pseudointimas of paracorporeal pumps in operation for as long as 5 weeks did not show signs of healing. The same principle of filtration of tissue fragments into a lining fabric was applied to diaphragms of left ventricular bypass pumps. This type of paracorporeal pump supported in vivo culture of implanted fragments.