title: Dilatation of aorto-bifemoral knitted Dacron grafts after a mean implantation of 5 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dilatation-rate of a reverse locknitted Dracon graft.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative study, a follow-up after 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Surgery, University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 1987 to 1990, 105 patients underwent elective aorto-bifemoral bypass surgery for aorto-iliac occlusive disease. Nineteen patients received a reverse locknitted Dacron graft. During follow-up in 1993 ten patients were available for evaluation of graft-diameter. For comparison 14 patients who received a wrap knitted Dacron graft (12 collagen impregnated and two uncoated) operated during the same time period were randomly chosen.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT-scan evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly lower increase (a mean aortic body dilatation of 6.8%) of the graft-size was found for this reverse locknitted Dacron (p < 0.001) compared to two wrap knitted Dacron grafts (collagen impregnated and uncoated knitted Dacron) (31.0% and 37.8% respectively). At the femoral level mean dilatation rates of respectively, 2.5%; 23.8% and 31.7% were found. Mural thrombus was observed in three grafts. No false aneurysms, graft degradation or graft occlusions were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that reverse locknitted Dacron dilates to a minimum, however, further studies are needed to evaluate the relation of graft-composition/structure and dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Swartbol
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Albrechtsson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pärsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norgren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004106:Dilatation; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates