REPLACEMENT OF INFRARENAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM S BY PTFE PROSTHESES

Postoperative dilatation of Dacron vascular grafts can lead to aneurys ms and rupture of the prosthesis making it necessary to change the gra ft by operation. Therefore, 15 patients at Lubeck University Hospital underwent replacement of the aorta with PTFE prostheses due to infrare nal aortic aneurysms. Ultrasound measurements 2-12 months postoperativ ely revealed a dilatation of 11.6% concerning tubular grafts, 11.5% fo r the shafts and 14.6% for the limbs of bifurcation grafts compared to the higher dilatation rate of Dacron prostheses described in the lite rature. There was no evidence of anastomotic false aneurysms, thrombos is of the limbs of bifurcation grafts, peripheral embolization or peri graft reaction. In conclusion, PTFE prostheses seem to be a means of p reventing patients from having secondary complications as a result of graft dilatation. Based on our early results and the results described in the literature, PTFE prostheses can be regarded as an alternative to dacron prostheses.