ONE MILLIMETRE POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE (GORE‐TEX) AS A MICROVASCULAR PROSTHESIS: TECHNIQUE AND EARLY PATENCY

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Abstract
A technique for grafting 1 mm internal diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) to the rat femoral artery is described. By spatulating the ends of the recipient artery and completing the proximal anastomosis before commencing the distal one, gentle and accurate suture placement is assured. At a mean of 40 days post-operatively (range 35-42 days) 16 of 20 Gore-Tex grafts (80%) were patent compared with 17 of 20 autogenous femoral vein grafts (85%). Examination of the prosthetic grafts by light microscopy and scanning EM showed incomplete development of a cellular lining and some areas of neo-intimal hyperplasia. One mm Gore-Tex provides excellent early patency as a microvascular graft in this experimental setting but long term patency is still undetermined.