EARLY RESULTS OF A REINFORCED BIOSYNTHETIC OVINE COLLAGEN VASCULAR PROSTHESIS FOR SMALL ARTERIAL RECONSTRUCTION

The efficacy of a reinforced biosynthetic ovine collagen (RBOC) vascul ar prosthesis developed for small arterial reconstruction was assessed by examining 30 grafts in 29 patients with arteriosclerosis obliteran s. The operative procedures performed were femorofemoral bypass in 2 p atients, above-knee femoropopliteal bypass in 28 patients, and below-k nee femoropopliteal bypass in 1 patient. Femoropopliteal bypass was si multaneously performed in two patients undergoing femorofemoral bypass using one or two grafts, The indications for surgery were intermitten t claudication in 27 patients and to salvage the limb in 2 patients, T he longest follow-up period was 49 months, and there were six graft fa ilures, occurring 1, 1, 9, 17, 17, and 23 months after implantation, r espectively; caused by compression of the graft from outside in two, i nfection in one, anastomotic intimal hyperplasia in one, and unknown f actors in two. Thus, the primary cumulative patency rate for above-kne e femoropopliteal bypass at 3 years was 83.7%, and the secondary paten cy rate was 91.2%. No aneurysmal change was observed. Moreover, the RB OC was able to be used without preclotting, and its handling and sutur ing characteristics were satisfactory, Our findings suggest that this vascular prosthesis may be an acceptable alternative for above-knee fe moropopliteal bypass.