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Clinical use of microvascular PTFE grafts
Author(s) -
Lanzetta Marco
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.1920160612
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , anastomosis , prosthesis , polytetrafluoroethylene , microvascular surgery , microsurgery , materials science , metallurgy
This paper reports on the first clinical case where a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft of less than 3 mm in diameter was implanted in the arterial system of a patient to bridge a vascular defect. A 1.5 cm long, 1.5 mm diameter prosthesis was interposed in the superficial palmar arch of a man who sustained a laceration of the palm of his dominant hand. The graft was implanted by means of the 3M Precise Microvascular Anastomotic System on one end, and by conventional microsurgical technique on the other end. There were no postoperative complications. The patient resumed his preinjury activities 9 weeks after trauma. Serial Doppler ultrasound examinations showed normal blood flow and complete patency of the graft. An angiogram performed 12 weeks postoperatively confirmed the patency of the prosthesis. Twelve months post‐operatively the patient is free from complications. The use of small diameter PTFE prostheses may be considered when planning grafting procedures for microvascular defects. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.