The salvage of occluded Dacron grafts.
The technical details of unblocking occluded Dacron grafts in 8 patients are described. The early results in 4 grafts in 8 patients are described. The early results in 4 unilaterally occluded bifurcation aortic grafts and 1 unilateral iliofemoral graft are encouraging with all 5 grafts patent 8-16 months postoperatively (mean 9 months). We recommend this operation as the procedure of choice in symptomatic patients presenting with a graft occlusion of this type before resorting to the insertion of a new prosthesis, and emphasize the importance of improving the outflow, usually by a profundaplasty. Only 1 out of 5 axillofemoral grafts remains patent at 8 months in spite of vigorous attention to operative detail. In this situation, an alternative procedure is suggested in the long term.
D000368:Aged; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000601:surgery*
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates