The role of graft material in aortic reconstructive surgery

Albumin-impregnated prosthetic graft for infrarenal aortic replacement: effects on the incidence and volume of perioperative blood transfusion

We retrospectively reviewed 290 cases in which an albumin-impregnated polyester prosthetic graft was used for surgical management of aortic bifurcation disease between November 1987 and December 1990. The purpose of this review was to determine the incidence and volume of blood transfusion and to evaluate the rate of patency and the incidence of infection achieved using this type of prosthesis. The indication for surgery was abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in 218 cases (190 elective procedures and 28 emergency procedures) and occlusive disease of the aortic bifurcation (ODAB) in 72 cases. Mean follow-up was 25.5 +/- 13.4 months (range: 1 and 50 months). The incidence of blood transfusion for elective AAA and ODAB surgery was 30.2% and 32.3% intraoperatively, 21.3% and 12.9% postoperatively, and 40.4% and 42.6% overall. The mean number of red cell packs transfused for elective AAA and ODAB surgery was respectively 1 and 0.8 intraoperatively, 0.4 and 0.6 postoperatively, and 1.4 and 1 overall. No immediate or late graft infection prosthesis was observed in any patient in this series. Primary and secondary patency was 95.5% and 97.5% at 6 months with no graft thrombosis during further follow-up. The fact that use of an impregnated graft in management of aortic bifurcation disease was accompanied by a high incidence and volume of blood transfusion suggests that these grafts do not reduce perioperative blood loss. Use of an impregnated prosthesis had no effect on the rate of patency and the incidence infection.

The albumin-coated knitted Dacron aortic prosthesis: a clinical study

Between June 1987 and January 1989, a total of 123 albumin-coated, knitted Dacron aortic prosthetic grafts were used in 120 patients. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of graft impermeability to blood as well as short- and medium-term patency of the graft material. Patients were grouped as follows: group I (64 patients), operation for chronic aortoiliac obliteration; group II (45 patients), operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm; group III (14 patients), operation on the thoracic aorta. Ninety-one bifurcated and 32 albumin-coated grafts were inserted. Abnormal bleeding was seen in five cases but did not lead to any adverse clinical consequences and stopped spontaneously. In group I there were two instances of early thromboses thought to be due to hemodynamic compromise, which were successfully treated surgically. In group III, two patients had early thrombosis due to coagulation disorders. These were treated by thrombectomy and medical therapy. One hundred and fourteen patients (95%) were followed for a mean of 8.2 months (range 1-18 months). Three late complications related to the prosthesis were observed: one patient had a false aneurysm occurring at month 14 and was corrected surgically. Two other patients experienced thrombosis of their graft treated by extraanatomical bypasses. Primary patency at the end of the follow-up period was 93% while secondary patency was 98%. There were no early or late infectious complications. We conclude that albumin-coated Dacron prosthesis is a reliable material for aortic replacement. Intraoperative loss of blood is reduced and short- and medium-term patency is comparable to those of uncoated aortic prosthetic material.