New polymer bandage for transplanted blood vessels may prevent bypass failures

A Californian firm has come up with a biodegradable polymer bandage that can be wrapped around a transplanted blood vessel to prevent it from thickening and restricting blood flow, a reason why a significant number of bypasses fail.

Experts at biopharmaceuticals company Geron point out that the thickening of transplanted blood vessels is believed to occur due to the stress of being transplanted and suddenly having to handle a different blood pressure and flow rate.

They say that the novel bandage can take the strain for the first few hours or days after surgery, reports New Scientist magazine.

The company has revealed in its patent application that experiments on pigs have shown that the bandage actually works, and can prevent the dangerous stress response. (ANI)

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