STERILIZATION EFFECT ON THE ELASTOPLASTIC BEHAVIOR OF GORE-TEX VASCULAR GRAFTS POLYMER

The study concerns with polymer material known commercially as GORE-TEX vascular polymer graft used in cardiac surgery, planting Parties arteries which show after a period of cultivation their tightness. Among the causes of this problem is the sterilization of the material as it is noticed by some Surgent at the Heart National Center - Tajoura, Libya. Precisely, the sterilization for more than three times based on the need and use which is contradicted with the manufacturer recommendation. The study would deal with the effect of sterilization types and frequency on GORE-TEX strength as an elastoplastic factor property. The mechanical properties are analyzed through uniaxial tensile tests, after each type and cycle of sterilization effect on GORE-TEX vascular graft polymer properties as elastoplastic behavior for two different routes of sterilization methods named the formalin & steam sterilization with the reference of the manufactory company sterilization process and condition. The sterilization effect on the mechanical behavior is evaluated. Data from uniaxial tensile tests are analyzed and discussed using the multi variant statistical tool (ANOVA) and the Post hoc Tukey HDS test in light of previous data on the commercially GORE-TEX vascular graft polymer used in cardiac surgery in order to highlight the correlation between the sterilization type and frequency of GORE-TEX vascular graft polymer with the elastic modulus and material resilience properties variation. The effect of formalin and steam sterilization and their frequency on the GORE - TEX polymer mechanical parameters are studied to be evaluated as a function of initial and final elastic modulus and the material resilience. Steam sterilization up to five times is recommended to use before deploying the implant in the living body. Formalin sterilization shows statistical significate difference compared to the manufacture sterilization data. So, it is not recommended to be used especially at high level of frequency.