Donald Serafin
Professor Emeritus of Surgery

Current Research Efforts: Working in collaboration with Bruce Klitzman, Ph.D., Director of the Plastic Surgery Research Laboratories, investigations continue on altering the thrombogenicity of microvascular prostheses. Efforts have been directed in reducing the thrombogenicity of (ePTFE) expanded polytetrafluroethylene vascular grafts utilizing hydrostatic pressure. Vascular prostheses were placed in saline under 6,000 psig hydrostatic pressure in an attempt to eliminate small pockets of gas known as gas nuclei trapped within the surface interstices of the graft material. By elimination of these gas nuclei thrombogenicity was significantly reduced.
In other studies it has been demonstrated that ePTFE treated grafts with TDMAC in Heparin also resulted in reduced thrombogenicity of the graft.
Other studies include the quantification of platelet emboli downstream from a vascular prosthesis, utilizing an isolated muscle technique which permits continuous monitoring of the microcirculation in the cremaster muscle. Current studies demonstrated that TDMAC Heparin on ePTFE microvascular prostheses not only improved graft patency rates but enhanced perfusion and reduced microemboli.
Ongoing investigations include the isolation and attachment of microvascular endothelial cells to ePTFE vascular graft material. Pretreatment of the graft material with denucleation and TDMAC with and without fibronectin demonstrated a highly significant retention of microvascular endothelial cells to the prosthesis. Current studies are underway to evaluate the degree to which these microvascular endothelial cells are metabolically active.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Contact Information

Some information on this profile has been compiled automatically from Duke databases and external sources. (Our About page explains how this works.) If you see a problem with the information, please write to Scholars@Duke and let us know. We will reply promptly.