An animal model for small-diameter arterial grafts.
A rabbit model was developed to study small-diameter arterial grafts. A total of 158 2-mm-diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts and 35 autogenous carotid artery (AA) grafts were interposed in the carotid arteries of New Zealand white rabbits. A pilot study of 16 PTFE grafts used to develop operative and anesthetic techniques had a 20% mortality and 38% early (less than 2 day) thrombosis rate. Subsequent to the pilot study 177 grafts were placed and a 92% postoperative survival with 100% AA graft patency and 93% PTFE graft patency at 2 weeks was observed. AA grafts followed beyond 16 weeks continued to have 100% patency, while PTFE grafts began to show increased failure. Closure was found to be due to the development of anastomotic myointimal hyperplasia.
Cassel
W S
WS
Department of Surgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook.
Mason
R A
RA
Campbell
R
R
Newton
G B
GB
Hui
J C
JC
Giron
F
F
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011817:Rabbits / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene