Changes in Polytetrafluoroethylene and Dacron GraftDiameters after Arterial Bypass Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We compared postoperative diameter changes between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Dacron grafts after aortic reconstruction and femoropopliteal bypass. METHOD: We analyzed 173 PTFE grafts and 73 Dacron grafts (165 aortic grafts, 81 peripheral grafts). The mean follow-up period was 28.4 months. RESULT: The mean diameter change in the Dacron grafts (6.6+/-3.0 SD mm) was larger than that in the PTFE grafts (3.7+/-1.8 SD mm). There was a statistically significant difference in the diameter change of PTFE and Dacron aortic grafts (p<0.001). The diameter changes in PTFE peripheral grafts were not significant (p=0.065). There was a significant linear correlation between diameter changes in the Dacron aortic grafts and follow-up duration (correlation coefficient=0.238, p=0.043). Diameter changes in the PTFE grafts showed no linear correlation with follow-up duration, irrespective of grafting range (aortic grafting correlation coefficient=0.048, p=0.646; peripheral grafting correlation coefficient=0.011, p=0.925). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that PTFE has superior durability compared to Dacron, and the change in graft diameter should be taken into consideration when the diameter of the graft needed for aortic reconstruction is selected.