FJVIS 9. New Biomaterials in Vascular Surgery

Biomechanical materials are of great scientific interest to provide solutions in various fields of vascular surgery. In addition to the well-known bovine pericardial patches, new biomaterials that can be advantageous in special indications have been developed. Our translational research shows promising results. The recent literature concerning endothelialized vascular grafts, extracellular matrix biomaterial patches, and vascular grafts made from bovine pericardium is summarized, and our experiences and long-term follow-up with these different biomaterials are presented. We have long and good experience with endothelialized vascular grafts, which are made individually for each patient in close cooperation with our scientific cell laboratory. These grafts are used for crural bypasses, when autologous veins are not available, providing nearly the same long-term results as with vein grafts. The use and special properties of the CorMatrix patch (CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc, Roswell, Ga), which provides a natural bioscaffold enabling a patient's own host cells to repopulate, are presented, along with unique electron microscopic images of partly endothelialized patches. BioIntegral vascular graft (BioIntegral Surgical, Inc, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), made from bovine pericardium, is an elegant solution in infected vascular wound areas when redo surgery is unavoidable and no other materials are applicable. Our translational research provides the unique opportunity to select the most suitable biomaterials for our patients. These can be used as a game changer in the entire vascular field from supra-aortic and aortic to crural vascular surgery. Profound knowledge of the different available materials is required. Close cooperation of vascular specialists with cell biologists and manufacturers of biotechnologic materials is particularly important.