Study of Elasticized Dacron as Arterial Prosthesis

Abstract

Despite the widespread development of peripheral vascular shunt grafting for atherosclerosis of the femoropopliteal system, there is still no general agreement as to the best replacement material. Early enthusiasm for homologous arterial replacement appears to be waning as reports of degenerative changes in these grafts increase.^10,41Difficulties in procurement of large numbers of arterial homografts have also proved to be a disadvantage as increasing numbers of patients seek operation. Autogenous vein grafts for peripheral vascular shunts have not developed wide surgical popularity, although recently there appears to be increasing approval of this material. The reluctant acceptance of veins may be due to the somewhat more difficult technique associated with their use and to some misunderstanding of the incidence of aneurysmal dilatation. This appears to be minimal when small peripheral veins are used as vascular replacements.²³Aortic largevessel replacement often results in aneurysm formation. A large number of synthetic