Glutaraldehyde-tanned bovine carotid artery graft for infrainguinal vascular reconstruction: 5-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the long-term patency of a modified biological conduit, the glutaraldehyde-tanned bovine carotid artery, in above-knee infrainguinal arterial reconstruction.


METHODS
Prospective follow-up of a cohort of 58 above-knee femoropopliteal grafts in 55 patients. Graft patency was assessed at yearly intervals with doppler ankle pressure measurements.


RESULTS
The median follow-up period has been 67 months. Nine grafts occluded within 30 days of surgery and a further 19 graft closures have been observed in the follow-up period. The overall cumulative primary graft patency at 1, 3 and 5 years was 70%, 61% and 56%, respectively. If the 30-day graft failures are excluded, the primary graft patency rises to 83%, 74% and 68% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Six limbs have been amputated, four above the knee and two below the knee. There were no graft aneurysms and no graft infections.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that the modified bovine carotid artery graft with an above-knee anastomosis does not seem to be inferior to PTFE, but is inferior to reversed vein. Modified biological conduits offer a reasonable alternative to synthetic grafts for infrainguinal arterial reconstruction and appear to maintain acceptable long-term mechanical stability.
Holdsworth
R J
RJ
Department of Vascular Surgery, Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, U.K.
Naidu
S
S
Gervaz
P
P
McCollum
P T
PT
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001705:Bioprosthesis; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D002417:Cattle; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene