HHP-Decellularized Porcine ITA for CABG: Preserved Compliance and In Vitro Hemocompatibility.

Small-diameter conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) require both distensibility and hemocompatibility, but synthetic grafts have poor patency. We evaluated an acellular arterial conduit prepared from porcine internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) harvested with an ultrasonic (harmonic) scalpel and decellularized by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). Porcine ITA was decellularized at 600 MPa and washed with DNase I and ethanol. Extracellular matrix preservation and residual DNA were assessed by histology/SEM and DNA quantification. Mechanical performance was evaluated using ISO 7198-guided methods, including suture retention, integral leakage, kink radius, and static compliance. Kink radius was measured under luminal pressurization using a cylindrical taper gauge, and static compliance was calculated as diameter-based compliance from the reconstructed inner radius under stepwise pressurization and reported as %/100 mmHg.