PRELIMINARY CLINICAL USE OF A NEW BIFURCATED GRAFT FOR PERIPHERAL VASCULAR-SURGERY

We describe herein a technique of performing a unilateral common ilio- bilateral femoropopliteal bypass using a small diameter bifurcated gra ft. The prosthesis, manufactured by Vascutek Ltd., is made of a gelati n-impregnated knitted Dacron graft with an externally ringed support, The diameter of the primary tube is 8 mm with a length of 25 cm, and t he secondary tube has a diameter of 7 mm with a length of 75 cm. A tot al of six patients were operated on using this procedure, through an e xtraperitoneal approach, Postoperative angiographies showed excellent graft patency and Doppler ultrasound studies revealed a significant in crease in the ankle-brachial pressure index in all patients. Using thi s newly designed small-diameter bifurcated graft, complete revasculari zation of multilevel occlusive disease can be performed with low opera tive mortality, and satisfactory relief of the ischemic symptoms can b e achieved by the bilateral sequential proximal and distal bypasses.