[Evaluation of the performance of a minimally invasive thoracic drainage tube in a rabbit model of hemothorax].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of a minimally invasive thoracic drainage tube (14 F) made of polyurethane (PU) in a rabbit model of hemothorax in comparison with the conventional 28 F chest tube (CCT). METHODS: Thirty New Zealand rabbits were divided into experimental chest tube (ECT) group (n=9), CCT group (n=6), and blood provider group (n=15). Blood samples (20 mL) collected from the blood providing rabbits were injected into the chest cavity of the rabbits in the other two groups, and the time taken for closed drainage of the thoracic cavity was recorded. The rabbits in ECT and CCT groups were subjected to blood injections (20 mL for each injection) into the chest cavity every 20 min for 5 times, and the volumes of blood drained by ECT and CCT were measured. Two hours later, the rabbits were sacrificed and the residual blood and blood clots in the chest cavities were observed. RESULTS: Compared with CCT, the use of ECT significantly shortened the operation time (P<0.05) and produced more effective blood drainage at 20 min and 40 min after the placement of the drainage tube (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the total blood volume drained between ECT and CCT groups, but the volume of residual blood in the thoracic cavity was significantly smaller in ECT group than in CCT group. No post-operative complications were found in the rabbits in ECT group while all the rabbits in CCT group had abutment pressure to the lung. CONCLUSION: Compared to CCT, ECT is less invasive and allows more effective thoracic drainage with more convenient operation and reduced postoperative complications, suggesting its potential for use in closed thoracic drainage in single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or in pediatric patients.

[Hemocompatibility evaluation in vitro of small-caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vessel with silk fibroin coating sulfonated by low temperature plasma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hemocompatibility of a small-caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vessel with silk fibroin coating sulfonated by low temperature plasma treatment. METHODS: The composite blood vessel was prepared by first coating the small-caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vessel with silk fibroin followed by sulfonation by low temperature plasma treatment. After hemolysis test in vitro, dynamic coagulation time test, blood platelet adhesion test, and recalcification time test were performed to evaluate the hemocompatibility of the composite blood vessel. RESULTS: Scanning electronic microscopy revealed obvious platelets adhesion on the conventional artificial (control) vessel, which seldom occurred on the composite vessel. The curve of absorbance-clotting time of the composite vessel declined more slowly than that of the control vessel. The recalcification time of the composite blood vessel averaged 603 s, significantly longer than that of the control vessel (480 s, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The composite blood vessel has good antithrombotic activity and hemocompatibility as a promising vascular prosthesis.