Postoperative alterations in size of Dacron aortic grafts: an ultrasonic evaluation

Reports of aneurysmal dilatation involving Dacron aortic prostheses have raised questions concerning the incidence, degree and significance of postoperative alterations in graft size. Consequently, a study was undertaken to evaluate Dacron graft size by ultrasooud in 95 asymptomatic patients selected at random after aortic surgery. A Vidison Real Time ultrasound unit was used to determine the internal diameter of the aortic portion of the various grafts utilized: 41 Cooley knitted, 25 Vasculour-D; 13 U.S.C.I. ultralightweight; nine Wesolowski Weavenit; and seven DeBakey standard weight knitted. Patients were studied at from two weeks to 138 months postoperatively (average of 33 months). Hypertension was present in 64% of patients. In the total series, the degree of mean dilatation was 17.6%. Average dilatation in patients with normotension was 15% compared to 21% in hypertensive patients. Graphic analysis of the data collected indicated that dilatation of a significant degree occurs in the immediate postoperative period and slowly increases with time; the time regression period and slowly increases with time; the time regression lines for normotensive and hypertensive patients were almost parallel. Results of this clinical study appear to corroborate the results of in vitro quality control tests performed by two graft manufacturers (Meadox and U.S.C.I.).