Dilatation of aorto-bifemoral knitted Dacron grafts after a mean implantation of 5 years.

Objective: To evaluate the dilatation-rate of a reverse locknitted Dracon graft.
Experimental Design: Comparative study, a follow-up after 5 years.
Setting: Department of Surgery, University Hospital.
Patients: During 1987 to 1990, 105 patients underwent elective aorto-bifemoral bypass surgery for aorto-iliac occlusive disease. Nineteen patients received a reverse locknitted Dacron graft. During follow-up in 1993 ten patients were available for evaluation of graft-diameter. For comparison 14 patients who received a wrap knitted Dacron graft (12 collagen impregnated and two uncoated) operated during the same time period were randomly chosen.
Intervention: CT-scan evaluation.
Results: A significantly lower increase (a mean aortic body dilatation of 6.8%) of the graft-size was found for this reverse locknitted Dacron (p < 0.001) compared to two wrap knitted Dacron grafts (collagen impregnated and uncoated knitted Dacron) (31.0% and 37.8% respectively). At the femoral level mean dilatation rates of respectively, 2.5%; 23.8% and 31.7% were found. Mural thrombus was observed in three grafts. No false aneurysms, graft degradation or graft occlusions were observed.
Conclusion: It was concluded that reverse locknitted Dacron dilates to a minimum, however, further studies are needed to evaluate the relation of graft-composition/structure and dilatation.