Fibrin Glue Coating of e-PTFE Prostheses Enhances Seeding of Human Endothelial cells

Summary A laboratory study was undertaken to improve the initial count of endothelial cells (EC) adhering to the wall of e-PTFE prostheses when seeding of human EC is attempted. In our experiments pretreatment of the prosthetic wall with commercially available fibrin glue (Tissucol®;) improved the reliability of the seeding procedure. The number and the distribution of EC seeded onto fibrin glue presealed e-PTFE prostheses was compared to the number and distribution of EC adhering to blood preclotted grafts 24 hours following the initial seeding procedure. Fibrin glue presealed grafts showed a higher number of initially adhering EC and a more equal distribution over the graft surface when compared to blood pretreated grafts. Our results suggest that the use of fibrin glue enhances the seeding of human EC on e-PTFE grafts.