Related Experiment Videos
[Late evaluation with spiral computed tomography of smooth bovine pericardium grafts]
R A Kalil1, C J Feldman, F W Ludwig
1Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre.
Purpose:
To evaluate morphologically by spiral computed tomography (SCT) bovine pericardial grafts as aortic substitutes.
Methods:
Ten patients were submitted to aortic graft evaluation with SCT. There were 8 ascending and 2 descending grafts. Examination was done after 2 to 7 years post operative. Ages ranged from 49 to 67 years, with 6 male and 4 female patients. All had implanted smooth surface naked pericardial grafts.
Results:
Surgical result was good in all. Distal dissection persisted in some cases. One had a peri-graft hematoma, 5 had no structural changes and 4 presented mild graft dilatation. There were no graft calcification or pseudoaneurysm.
Conclusion:
Glutaraldehyde preserved naked smooth surface bovine pericardial aortic grafts present satisfactory structural aspect, as seen by SCT, at medium term follow-up. Mild dilatation may be seen in some cases.