Newer tissue and synthetic grafts in canine femoral veins

We tested double-velour Dacron, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, gluteraldehyde-preserved human umbilical vein, and spiral composite autogenous vein against the standard of autogenous vein as segmental replacements in canine femoral veins. Technical adequacy of venous anastomoses was assessed by immediate postoperative venography. Continuous patency was assessed by venography at 3, 7, 21, and 42 days. None of the synthetic or other tissue grafts were comparable to autogenous vein in terms of early and continuous patency. Spiral vein composites had significantly better continuous patency when compared to synthetic or preserved tissue grafts. Recanalization was seen with both spiral composite autogenous vein and double-velour Dacron, but was not observed with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene or preserved umbilical vein. We conclude that: (1) these newer synthetic and preserved tissue grafts are unsatisfactory for use in the venous system, particularly in low-flow, small diameter sites and (2) spiral composites offer a simple method of constructing vein grafts of any chosen diameter which can be successful in even low-velocity flow, small diameter sites particularly when appropriately sized unmodified autogenous vein is not available.