APPLICATION OF COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY FOR SURVEILLANCE OF AORTIC GRAFTS

This study was undertaken to assess the application Of computed tomogr aphy (CT) for surveillance of aortic grafts. Methods. Demographics, op erative technique, and graft type and size at the time of implantation of aortic grafts in 178 patients were recorded. CT measurements of gr aft diameters were made with calipers. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance, multiple regression, and chi-squared methods. Results. On e hundred twenty-eight (72%) bifurcated grafts and 50 (28%) tube graft s were placed for aneurysmal disease (49%), aortoiliac occlusive disea se (47%), ruptured aneurysm (2.3%), anastomotic aneurysm (1%), and gra ft aneurysm (0.6%). Mean implant time was 43.3 +/- 3.2 months. A total of 143 Dacron prostheses (74 woven, 69 knitted) and 35 polytetrafluor oethylene prostheses were placed. Mean percentage dilation was 49.2 +/ - 4.0 for knitted prostheses, 28.5 +/- 3.0 for woven prostheses, and 2 0.6 +/- 1.9 for polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses compared with the g raft implant size. A significant correlation was seen between graft di lation (more than 50%) and graft construction with knitted prostheses (p < 0.01, Tukey's range test). Complications detected by CT occurred in 24 (13.5%) patients including supragraft aneurysms (seven), distal anastomotic aneurysms (five), proximal anastomotic aneurysms (three), graft infections (two), perigraft fluid collections (two), graft aneur ysm with thrombus and distal embolization (two), and nonvascular compl ications (three). Conclusions. CT is a useful modality for postoperati ve imaging of aortic prostheses. Routine surveillance may detect compl ications before they become clinically apparent.