In vivo fragmentation of microporous polyurethane- and copolyesterether elastomer-based vascular prostheses.

A previous study showed that microporous, compliant and (bio)degradable vascular prostheses prepared from a polyurethane/poly(L-lactic acid) mixture can function as a temporary scaffold for the regeneration of small-calibre arteries. In this study the mechanism of fragmentation of vascular prostheses made of polyurethane, copolyesterether and blends of either polyurethane or copolyesterether with polymers differing in biodegradability, crystallinity and glass transition temperature is investigated. Animal studies revealed that after 6 wk of implantation only the prostheses made of blends containing a second polymer which was non-elastic at 37 degrees C were fragmented extensively, whether the second polymer was (bio)degradable or not. It is concluded that fragmentation of the prostheses is mainly caused by alternating stresses induced by the arterial pulsations and that (bio)degradation plays a minor role.