Polyethileneglycol: a novel tissue preservation towards improvement of bioprosthesis durability in children

  • Dr Vinicius Nina, University Hospital of The Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Dr Rachel Haickel Nina, University Hospital of The Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Mr Vinicius Mendes, University Hospital of The Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Dr Eduardo Ferreira, University Hospital of The Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Dr Eduardo Figueredo, University Center of Maranhão, UNICEUMA, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Msc José Sampaio Filho, University Center of Maranhão, UNICEUMA, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Dr José Anselmo Lopes, University Hospital of The Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil
  • Mr André Luis Cantanhede, University Hospital of The Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis-MA, Brazil, Brazil

    • Objective: To compare the acute inflammatory reaction and late calcific degeneration of bovine pericardium implants with two different tissue preservation.
    Methods: Isolated segments of 1.0cm2 of bovine pericardium were implanted subcutaneously in the paravertebral region of young rats which were divided into 4 groups consisting of 10 animals each: Group A and A¹ (control - glutaraldehyde) and Group B and B¹(test: polyethyleneglycol - PEG). At the end of 1 and 8 weeks animals of groups A and B and A¹ and B¹ were sacrificed respectively,and the grafts removed for histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin(for inflammation) and von Kossa(for calcification). For statistical analysis the Fisher's exact test was used.
    Results: Some degree of inflammation was observed in all grafts with both tissue preservation; however, the collagen structure was preserved in 70% of the samples treated with PEG compared with 100% in the control group (p = 0.21).After 8 weeks calcification was observed in 30% of the grafts treated with PEG versus 90% of the segments treated with glutaraldehyde (p = 0.03).
    Conclusion: The features of acute inflammatory reaction were similar
    with both tissue preservation; however, PEG seems to provide a greater resistance to calcification which ultimately could guarantee a long-term durability of a bioprosthetic material when compared to conventional preservation with glutaraldehyde.