Evaluation of patency of synthetic and autogenous venous and arterial micrografts in rats

Abstract
Long-term patency rates of synthetic and autogenous venous and arterial microvascular grafts in rats were compared. The grafts were interposed between the carotid arteries. The geometry of the anastomoses was designed in a manner intended to be comparable to the situation commonly encountered in cerebral revascularization procedures in man. Patency rates were 37.5% for synthetic grafts, 90% for venous grafts, and 60% for arterial grafts. Venous grafts are the best currently available microvascular prostheses.