TISSUE-ENGINEERED SMALL-DIAMETER VASCULAR GRAFTS: BACKGROUND AND NEW TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Abstract

Objectives. To perform a literature review regarding the evolution of different types of vascular grafts obtained by tissue-engineering methods.  

Material and methods. The English literature search was conducted in on-line PubMed databases of the last decades, using the following MeSH-terms: „peripheral arterial disease”, „coronary artery disease”, „bypass surgery”, „vascular graft” and „tissue enginerring”. The data regarding the evolution of tissue-engineered grafts, achievements in the field and actual practices were collected and analyzed.

Results. The absence of optimal replacements for bypass interventions in vascular and cardiac surgery has led to the development of tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVGs). Recent studies demonstrated the feasibility of using TEVGs in the settings of vascular trauma, peripheral arterial disease, heart disease, and vascular access for hemodialysis.

Conclusions. The progress of physiology, cell biology, and biomanufacturing over the past several decades has made obvious recent advances in the engineering of arteries. As a result, use of engineered arteries becomes mainstay of surgical therapy for vascular disease.