The technique reduces the risk of infection and increases the chances of saving a patient’s limb, Poland's PAP news agency has reported.
The Sosnowiec surgical team has performed two procedures using this material as an alternative to biological grafts taken from the patient’s own tissues or synthetic prostheses.
Prof. Damian Ziaja, head of the hospital’s vascular surgery department, explained that as a biological material, bovine pericardium has a better chance of resisting infection compared to artificial alternatives.
"The patient has a better chance of keeping their limb because a vascular infection can lead to sepsis, which is life-threatening," Ziaja said. "In many cases, using biological material is the last resort."
He added that this innovation represents a step forward in medical technology that could significantly improve patients' quality of life and survival rates.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic disease in which fatty deposits build up on the walls of arteries, forming plaques that block blood flow. This can cause severe circulation problems, leading to limb ischemia—a condition in which tissues do not receive enough oxygenated blood.
In advanced cases, vascular grafts are used to replace damaged arteries.
More than 6 million Poles are estimated to be at risk of atherosclerosis. The disease most commonly affects people with unhealthy diets, obesity, genetic predisposition to cardiovascular disease, and those who smoke or consume excessive amounts of alcohol.
It can lead to tissue damage, and untreated can result in amputation.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP