In a new revealation, researchers have shown that twisting the graft to bypass a blockage in the blood vessels may work better and last
In a new revealation, researchers have shown that twisting the graft to bypass a blockage in the blood vessels may work better and last longer.
In using a graft to bypass blockages, scientists often use plastic prosthetic tubes. Similar tubes are also used when patients with renal problems have dialysis. This is called a shunt. The problem with the usage of shunt have difficlties, as in the blood vessels, the blood flows twisting and turning as the artery goes. However in case of a shunt, the blood flows unhindered that can lead to difference in change of flows, stagnant areas etc which can cause health problems. That is why shunts may fail in a number of cases where they have been grafted.The result to this problem is shunts with helicals twists. These are being called SwirlGrafts that just mimic the twists of the normal blood vessels.
Researchers from Imperial College of London, who are responsible to creating the SwirlGrafts have successfully tested their loop in live animals. The results of the tests have shown that conventional grafts had thickened blood that had also coagulated, but the new shunts looked as good as new since they were grafted.
Reference: Journal of the Royal Society Interface, June 2005
