EXPERIMENTAL EXPERIENCE WITH A TEMPORARY INTRALUMINAL HEPARIN-BONDED POLYURETHANE ARTERIAL SHUNT

After vascular injury, intraluminal arterial shunting may be employed if definitive surgery must be delayed. This paper describes use of a h eparin-bonded polyurethane shunt to restore distal circulation after l igation of the femoral artery in sheep. In studies to determine tissue viability for 12 h after insertion into the femoral artery, five of s even shunts remained patent. In another series of experiments to study tissue viability after limb ischaemia, the femoral artery was ligated and a tight Esmarch bandage applied to the limb for 6 h before shunt insertion. The shunt remained patent for 12 h in five of six cases. Ne arly all shunt failures occurred shortly after placement and were attr ibutable to intimal damage arising from difficulties during insertion.