Name: surgical technique for the implantation of tissue engineered vascular grafts and subsequent in vivo monitoring
Uploaded: 2015-04-03T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Surgical Technique for the Implantation of Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts and Subsequent In Vivo Monitoring at JoVE.com

This work was supported by grants from the National Heart and Lung Institute (R01 HL086582) and the New York Stem Cell Science Fund (NYSTEM, Contract#&#160;C024316) to S.T.A. and D.D.S. Illustrations used in JoVE video were completed by John Nyquist; Medical Illustrator from State University of New York at Buffalo.

NOTE: This protocol has been approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
1. Pre-surgical Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Use sheep (Dorset cross, female, approximately 1-3 years old with a weight of 40-60 kg) for the following study. Administer cyclosporine A (200 mg/day), aspirin (975 mg/day), and coumadin (20-30 mg/day) by mouth, starting 3 days before surgery and continue for the duration of all studies.</li>
	<li>Ensure the sheep has fasted 12 hr b...

<ol>
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The purpose of this report is to provide a reliable and reproducible procedure to implant TEVs of interest in the ovine carotid artery. The native carotid arteries of the animals used in this model were 0.5-0.75 mm in thickness and 4.5-5 mm in outside diameter. The surgical technique described here has been successful for implanting TEVs of varying geometries measuring 0.25-1 mm in thickness, 4-5 mm outside diameter and 4 cm in length with great success proving effective up to 3 months duration, the intended end point. T...

The primary focus for the development of TEVs has been to provide a substitute for autologous graft replacement when autologous vessels are not available and to limit donor sight morbidity. For example, the number of coronary artery bypass surgeries per year has exceeded 350,000 in the USA, and the ideal source of suitable grafts remains the left internal mammary artery, left anterior descending coronary artery and saphenous vein1. Since many individuals who suffer from vascular diseases may not have suitable arteries and veins for autologous graft replacement, the development of TEVs has thus become an intense field of research for decades1-6. While the engineering and optimization of novel TEVs have undergone many advancements, reporting on the surgical techniques employed to implant the TEVs themselves has not been a topic of such intense discussion. Rather, protocols regarding the implantation of TEVs into animal models are largely left up to research investigators.
The following manuscript demonstrates how to implant TEVs by utilizing an end-to-end anastomosis approach. This procedure was optimized by using a specific anastomotic suturing pattern, stabilizing suture technique, optimizing longitudinal tension and the addition of in vivo monitoring instrumentation. This method is contrasted with some of the many variations that have been previously used. Furthermore, this procedure describes how to acquire parameters such as arterial blood pressure, TEV diameter/compliance and flow rate through the TEV after surgery up until explantation. This data collection provides an indispensable analysis of the TEV while it is in the process of remodeling.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1505">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="43">
			<td dir="LTR" height="43" style="height:43px;width:335px;">Equipment</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:208px;">Manufacturer</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:311px;">Serial/Catalog #</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:363px;">Notes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="56">
			<td dir="LTR" height="94" rowspan="2" style="height:94px;width:335px;">Pressure Transducer</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:208px;">Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:311px;">P23XL-1</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">1+ (1 for each artery) 
			&#160;Used with water-filled diaphragm domes</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="172">
			<td dir="LTR" height="172" style="height:172px;width:335px;">Amplifier and transducer box</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:208px;">Gould</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:311px;">5900 Signal Conditioner Cage</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">1 
			Two transducers and amplifiers should be included in cage. While this specific unit may be discontinued, other commercially available pressure transducers with a BNC/analog output will communicate with the Sonometrics equipment</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="121">
			<td dir="LTR" height="121" style="height:121px;width:335px;">T403 Console with TS420 perivascular flowmeter module(x2)&#160;</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:208px;">Transonic Systems</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:311px;">T403 module and TS420 (x2)</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">1 
			Flow probes measuring flow through each of the carotid arteries will connect to each of the TS420 units.&#160;&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="126">
			<td dir="LTR" height="126" style="height:126px;width:335px;">Digital ultrasonic measurement unit</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:208px;">Sonometrics</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:311px;">TR-USB</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">1</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="48">
			<td dir="LTR" height="48" style="height:48px;width:335px;">Flow Probe Precision S-Series 4mm</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="4" style="width:208px;">Transonic Systems Inc.</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="4" style="width:311px;">MC4PSS-LS-WC100-CM4B-GA</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="4" style="width:291px;">2</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="4" style="width:363px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td dir="LTR" height="49" rowspan="2" style="height:49px;width:335px;">1mm&#160; Sonometrics Crystals</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:208px;">Sonometrics Systems</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:311px;">1R-38S-20-NC-SH</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">&#160;2-4 (2 for each artery)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="81">
			<td dir="LTR" height="134" rowspan="2" style="height:134px;width:335px;">Catheter for implantation</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:208px;">BD (Becton Dickinson)</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:311px;">&#160;381447</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">&#160;1+ (1 for each artery) 
			Catheter is cut and secured to microbore tubing, stylette is utilized for insertion&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td dir="LTR" height="73" rowspan="2" style="height:73px;width:335px;">Tygon Microbore Tubing</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:208px;">Norton Performance Plastics</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:311px;">(AAQ04127) Formulation S-54-HL</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">NA (cut to length for an extension set)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td dir="LTR" height="49" rowspan="2" style="height:49px;width:335px;">Luer Stub Adapter</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:208px;">BD (Becton Dickinson)</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:311px;">427564 (20 gauge)</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">1+ (1 for each arterial catheter)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td dir="LTR" height="82" rowspan="2" style="height:82px;width:335px;">Surflo Injection Plug</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:208px;">Terumo</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:311px;">SR-IP2</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">1+ (1 for each arterial catheter)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="39">
			<td dir="LTR" height="128" rowspan="2" style="height:128px;width:335px;">Meadox</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:208px;">PTFE (Teflon) Felt</td>
			<td dir="LTR" rowspan="2" style="width:311px;">19306</td>
			<td dir="LTR" style="width:291px;">NA (cut to size) 
			The PTFE felt used in our studies was discontinued. However, comparable companies such as &#8220;Surgical Mesh&#8221; offer products which are equivalent.&#160;</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

surgical technique for the implantation of tissue engineered vascular grafts and subsequent in vivo monitoring

The development of Tissue Engineered Vessels (TEVs) is advanced by the ability to routinely and effectively implant TEVs (4-5 mm in diameter) into a large animal model. A step by-step protocol for inter-positional placement of the TEV and real-time digital assessment of the TEV and native carotid arteries is described here. In vivo monitoring is made possible by the implantation of flow probes, catheters and ultrasonic crystals (capable of recording dynamic diameter changes of implanted TEVs and native carotid arteries) at the time of surgery. Once implanted, researchers can calculate arterial blood flow patterns, invasive blood pressure and artery diameter yielding parameters such as pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, pulse pressures and compliance. Data acquisition is accomplished using a single computer program for analysis throughout the duration of the experiment. Such invaluable data provides insight into TEV matrix remodeling, its resemblance to native/sham controls and overall TEV performance in vivo.

More than 30 sheep have undergone the surgical technique described in this report for the implantation of TEVs (in press) 9. A table summarizing the most recent sheep operations after protocol optimization are shown in Table 2. All sheep recovered after TEV implantation with no life threatening complications. In some animals, fibrosis was observed in native artery near the tip of the indwelling arterial catheter. A significant increase of inflammation with the presence of added instrumentation...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Surgical Technique for the Implantation of Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts and Subsequent In Vivo Monitoring at JoVE.com

Surgical Technique for the Implantation of Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts and Subsequent In Vivo Monitoring

A step-by-step protocol for the inter-positional placement of Tissue Engineered Vessels (TEVs) into the carotid artery of a sheep using end-to-end anastomosis and real-time digital assessment in vivo until animal sacrifice.

Surgical Technique for the Implantation of Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts and Subsequent In Vivo Monitoring

The development of Tissue Engineered Vessels (TEVs) is advanced by the ability to routinely and effectively implant TEVs (4-5 mm in diameter) into a large ...

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