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Expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene as canine arterial bypass or replacement graft
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|July 1, 1978
Summary
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts show poor patency rates in vascular surgery. Further research is needed before clinical use, especially when alternatives exist.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is utilized for small-vessel bypass and replacement grafting.
- Clinical and experimental results with PTFE grafts have shown considerable variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the patency rates of short (4-cm) femoral and carotid artery replacement PTFE grafts.
- To evaluate longer (12-cm) femoral artery bypass PTFE grafts that cross a flexion crease.
Main Methods:
- Grafts with pore sizes ranging from 10 to 30 µm were implanted.
- Patency was assessed after three months.
Main Results:
- The overall patency rate after three months was 22%.
- No long bypass grafts remained patent; occlusion was consistently thrombotic, linked to suture line fibrin.
- Short carotid grafts had a 45% patency rate (9/20), and short femoral grafts had a 22% patency rate (5/22).
Conclusions:
- The pore size and anastomosis type did not influence graft patency.
- The observed poor patency rates suggest that further experimental investigation is warranted for PTFE use in vascular reconstruction, particularly when alternative treatments are available.