[Vitaflon vascular graft for portocaval shunt: experimental and clinical study]

Native "Vitaflon" vascular graft made of spongeous polytetrafluoroethylene for portocaval shunt was evaluated in patients with portal hypertension. Experimental series in grey rabbits proved high biological inertness of the graft. It was used for portocaval shunt in 13 patients. The follow-up from 1 to 32 months demonstrated successful results in 12 cases.