Aortocoronary Gore-Tex graft: 18-month patency

Despite widespread success with Gore-Tex (polytetrafluoroethylene) vascular grafts in peripheral artery operations, very little use has been made of this material in aortocoronary bypasses. We present the case of a 61-year-old woman with a 6-month history of angina who was found to have no suitable saphenous vein available at operation and who therefore underwent Gore-Tex bypass grafting to the right coronary artery. Coronary angiograms made 6 months and 18 months postoperatively showed patency of the 6 mm Gore-Tex replacement graft as well as the internal mammary artery placed to the left anterior descending coronary artery. Although frequent follow-up and close observation are recommended in patients with aortocoronary Gore-Tex grafting, the unique design of this material has made it the best alternative for synthetic coronary bypass conduit in the absence of the saphenous veins, particularly when these veins are found to be inadequate only at the time of operation.