This study investigates the unique properties, fabrication technique, and vascular applications of woven nanotextiles made from low-strength nanoyarns, which are bundles of thousands of nanofibers. An innovative robotic system was developed to meticulously interweave nanoyarns in longitudinal and transverse directions, resulting in a flexible, but strong woven product. This is the only technique for producing seamless nanotextiles in tubular form from nanofibers. The porosity and the mechanical properties of nanotextiles could be substantially tuned by altering the number of nanoyarns per unit area. Investigations of the physical and biological properties of the woven nanotextile revealed remarkable and fundamental differences from its nonwoven nanofibrous form and conventional textiles. This enhancement in the material property was attributed to the multitude of hierarchically arranged nanofibers in the woven nanotextiles. This patterned woven nanotextile architecture leads to a superhydrophilic behavior in an otherwise hydrophobic material, which in turn contributed to enhanced protein adsorption and consequent cell attachment and spreading. Short-term in vivo testing was performed, which proved that the nanotextile conduit was robust, suturable, kink proof, and nonthrombogenic and could act as an efficient embolizer when deployed into an artery.

Background Many observational studies and trials have shown that coronary artery bypass grafting improves the survival in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. However, these results are based on data generated from developed countries. Poor socioeconomic statuses, lack of uniformity in healthcare delivery, differences in risk profile, and affordability to access optimal health care are some factors that make the conclusions from these studies irrelevant to patients from India. Methods and Results One‐hundred and sixty‐two patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤35%) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting from 2009 to 2017 were enrolled for this study. Mean age of the study population was 58.67±9.70 years. Operative mortality was 11.62%. Thirty day/in‐house composite outcome of stroke and perioperative myocardial infarction were 5.8%. The percentage of survival for 1 year was 86.6%, and 5‐year survival was 79.9%. Five‐year event‐free survival was 49.3%. The mean ejection fraction improved from 30.7±4.08% (range 18–35) to 39.9±8.3% (range 24–60). Lack of improvement of left ventricular function was a strong predictor of late mortality (hazard ratio, 21.41; CI 4.33–105.95). Even though there was a trend towards better early outcome in off‐pump CABG , the 5‐year survival rates were similar in off‐pump and on‐pump group (73.4% and 78.9%, respectively; P value 0.356). Conclusions We showed that coronary artery bypass grafting in ischemic cardiomyopathy was associated with high early composite outcomes. However, the 5‐year survival rates were good. Lack of improvement of left ventricular function was a strong predictor of late mortality.

Superior vena cava syndrome is one of the rare adverse events associated with pacemaker leads. We describe a 47-year-old woman with a pacemaker implanted 10 years earlier who presented to us with superior vena cava syndrome managed surgically. We report the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of this patient and the causes and management options of superior vena cava obstruction associated with pacemaker leads.

Globally, millions of patients are affected by myocardial infarction or lower limb gangrene/amputation due to atherosclerosis. Available surgical treatment based on vein and synthetic grafts provides sub-optimal benefits. We engineered a highly flexible and mechanically robust nanotextile-based vascular graft (NanoGraft) by interweaving nanofibrous threads of poly-L-lactic acid to address the unmet need. The NanoGrafts were rendered impervious with selective fibrin deposition in the micropores by pre-clotting. The pre-clotted NanoGrafts (4 mm diameter) and ePTFE were implanted in a porcine carotid artery replacement model. The fibrin-laden porous milieu facilitated rapid endothelization by the transmural angiogenesis in the NanoGraft. In-vivo patency of NanoGrafts was 100% at 2- and 4-weeks, with no changes over time in lumen size, flow velocities, and minimal foreign-body inflammatory reaction. However, the patency of ePTFE at 2-week was 66% and showed marked infiltration, neointimal thickening, and poor host tissue integration. The study demonstrates the in-vivo feasibility and safety of a thin-layered vascular prosthesis, viz., NanoGraft, and its potential superiority over the commercial ePTFE. Graphical Abstract