[Our first clinical experiences with chemically modified heteroplastic arterial transplants from cattle and calf...

In an 18-month period 22 chemically modified bovine arterial heterografts have been implanted in 21 patients. 1 aorto-profundal and 2 iliaco-femoral bypasses have remaint. The overall success rate was influenced by negative patient selection at the outset of the study. The longest follow-up period for a patent femoro-popliteal bypass has been 12 months. The grafts were initially processed by the method of Rosenberg, but there have been decisive improvements and since 1974 nonantigenic grafts of varying length and width have been available. Their strength and density are good and their operative handling excellent. The observation time is too short, and the number of patients too small, to permit definite conclusions. Nevertheless, the acceptable results where the indication is correct justify a recommendation to use bovine heterografts as arterial substitutes.