title: Thromboembolism from undersized Dacron grafts in the descending thoracic aorta.
abstract: Three patients were referred to our institution for major thromboembolic complications secondary to the use of undersized Dacron grafts (14, 16, and 18 mm) in the descending thoracic aorta. The progressive accumulation of thrombotic material in the prosthesis caused recurrent coarctation in 1 patient and peripheral embolisms in the other 2. With a 9-mm Gott shunt providing distal perfusion, excision of the clotted graft and its replacement with a 22-mm Dacron prosthesis was successfully achieved in each patient.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdant
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagé
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baillot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates