Further experiences with bovine arterial grafts

Following favorable laboratory experience with the chemically modified bovine arterial graft (reported previously), we have used it for arterial reconstruction of the lower extremity in 84 operations upon 79 patients. The over-all patency rate was 42%. There were 7% infections, which usually occurred in secondary and tertiary procedures. Five percent of the grafts became aneurysmal. These results, published reports, and the results of a questionnaire mailed to vascular surgeons indicates similarity of experience. The disadvantages of frequent early thrombosis of undetermined cause, aneurysmal degeneration in approximately 4%, the considerable cost, and the nonavailability of the graft in different dimensions have resulted in our discontinuation of use for arterial reconstructions.