[Morphological evaluation of joint-crossing expanded PTFE prosthesis (author's transl)]

Ten expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular grafts were implanted in dogs crossing the joint, performed as iliofemoral bypass. After 1, 3, 6, and 9 months the grafts were studied by light microscopy, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. There was a good patency of all straight prostheses. The pre- and postkink areas showed thrombosis leading to stenosis. After 9 months endothelium was spread over all other parts of the luminal surface, including the kink area. Intramurally there was a focal ingrowth of fibroblastic cells with the characteristics of myocytes.