Synthetic vascular graft - Dacron

Also known as Polyethylene Terephthalate, Dacron comes into two forms which are woven and knitted form.

Woven Dacron

• low porosity (<500ml/ cm²/ min),
• no need pre-clotting
• strong
• stiff (non-stretchable
• poor handling
• frays at cut edges

Knitted Dacron

• high porosity (1200-1900 ml/ cm²/ min)
• need pre-clotting
• less durable
• dilate
• softer
• better handling
• do not fraying

Ways of modification of Dacron for better vascular graft

• Cramping - accordion pleats and is useful as it helps to improve handling and elasticity.
• Impregnation - by impregnating biodegradable substances eg: fibrin, collagen to fill the interstices of the fabric and reduce blood loss and negate the need of pre-clot. 
• 
• Velour - applying additional loops of yarns which are piled perpendicularly to the surface-velour

A synthetic polymer polyester terephthalate (PET), also known as Dacron is mostly recognized because it is found to be biocompatible, flexible, resilient, durable and resistant to biodegradation and sterilization.