Early complications with a new bovine arterial graft (Solcograft-P)

In three separate centers of vascular surgery in Norway, a total of 26 patients underwent implantation of a new bovine arterial graft (Solcograft-P) for femoropopliteal or femorotibial bypass or arterial patch-plasty. Serious complications--graft deterioration and formation of aneurysm or pseudoaneurysm--arose in eight patients, all within 4 months after the implantation. In central Europe only four anastomotic pseudoaneurysms have been reported after about 700 Solcograft implantations, even with longer observation time. Possible causes of the difference in complication rates are discussed.