Re-endothelialization of punctured ePTFE graft: an in vitro study under pulsed perfusion conditions.

Background: When used as arteriovenous (AV) shunts for haemodialysis, small diameter expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts have a high failure rate in vivo. Attempts to improve graft patency are various, and focus on either improvement of implantation techniques or graft tissue engineering. The tissue engineering approach attempts to reproduce in grafts the properties of pristine vasculature.