Polyurethane vascular prostheses in pigs

Microporous, compliant vascular prostheses made from segmented polyurethanes of various molecular stability, have been implanted in the infrarenal aorta of young pigs. Prostheses prepared from a hydrolytically suble polyetherurethane showed a limited patency up to 1 month. Composite prostheses with the wall made from a hydrolytically stable polyurethane and the lumen side prepared from a degradable polyurethane, were patent up to one year. A degradable layer of this composite prosthesis induced the growth of a neo-artery. Prostheses prepared from a degradable polyurethane alone, were substituted within 4 months with a functional neo-artery.