DILATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROVEL AND VASCULOUR-II AORTIC BIFURCATION GRAFTS

Dilation is inherent to all knitted Dacron arterial prostheses. Insuff icient clinical data regarding the usual dilative characteristics of s pecific grafts confound its significance and management. Alterations i n size of all parts of knitted aortic bifurcation grafts (43 Microvel and 37 Vasculour-II) were evaluated by CT scanning in 80 patients; 76 scans were obtained in those with Microvel and 69 in those with Vascul our-II grafts. The mean dilation values were Microvel 54% +/- 16% SD a t a mean follow-up of 21 months and Vasculour-II: 48% +/- 21% SD with a mean follow-up of 73 months. Serial scans and a linear correlation s tudy indicated that the rate of progressive dilation for both grafts w as relatively low. The wide range of dilation values among patients wi th the same graft type, and even the same implantation time, operated upon by the same surgeon, suggests that multiple etiologic mechanisms are involved. Consequently, all patients must be evaluated individuall y, preferably with serial scans that evaluate all parts of the graft. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.