Abstract
Background Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is a suture material for annuloplasty in
aortic valve repair. For this particular application, it should induce minimal local
stress and promote rapid tissue incorporation. To achieve this, a novel ePTFE suture
with a larger diameter and high porosity in its midsection has been developed. Herein,
we analyzed the acute and chronic tissue reaction to this suture material compared
with a commercially available control ePTFE suture.
Methods Novel and control suture samples were implanted into dorsal skinfold chambers of
BALB/c mice to analyze the early inflammatory response using intravital fluorescence
microscopy over 14 days. Additional suture samples were implanted for 4 and 12 weeks
in the flank musculature of mice and analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry.
Results The implantation of novel and control ePTFE suture into the dorsal skinfold chamber
did not induce an acute inflammation, as indicated by physiological numbers of rolling
and adherent leukocytes in all analyzed venules. Chronic implantation into the flank
musculature showed a better tissue incorporation of the novel ePTFE suture with more
infiltrating cells and a higher content of Sirius red+ collagen fibers when compared
with controls. Cell proliferation and viability as well as numbers of recruited CD68+
macrophages, myeloperoxidase+ neutrophilic granulocytes and CD3+ lymphocytes did not
significantly differ between the groups.
Conclusion The novel ePTFE suture exhibits a good in vivo biocompatibility which is comparable
to that of the control suture. Due to its improved tissue incorporation, it may provide
a better long-term stability during annuloplasty.
Keywords
aortic valve and root - valve - surgery - aortic annulus - aortic regurgitation -
aortic annuloplasty
