Clinical and experimental evaluation of aortic polytetrafluoroethylene grafts for aneurysm replacement

J. D. Corson, R. Reinhardt, A. Von Grondell, D. Shah, J. Kaufman and R. Leather
Department of Surgery, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic, Iowa City 52242.

The aortic expanded polytetrafluoroethylene bifurcation graft has a unique taper design. This was studied in an in vitro model using hydrogen bubbles and colored dyes to assess its hemodynamic significance compared with a conventional nontapered graft model. Under conditions of nonpulsatile flow the only significant differences were seen with a high percentage of occlusions of one outflow limb. Clinical experience with this new graft for infrarenal aneurysm replacement was accumulated in 163 elective cases and 53 emergency cases. The results with this new graft were compared with those obtained in the same time frame with alternative Dacron grafts. No detrimental problems with the graft have appeared in its use up to 78 months following aneurysm bypass or replacement.