The salvage of occluded Dacron grafts.

The technical details of unblocking occluded Dacron grafts in 8 patients are described. The early results in 4 grafts in 8 patients are described. The early results in 4 unilaterally occluded bifurcation aortic grafts and 1 unilateral iliofemoral graft are encouraging with all 5 grafts patent 8-16 months postoperatively (mean 9 months). We recommend this operation as the procedure of choice in symptomatic patients presenting with a graft occlusion of this type before resorting to the insertion of a new prosthesis, and emphasize the importance of improving the outflow, usually by a profundaplasty. Only 1 out of 5 axillofemoral grafts remains patent at 8 months in spite of vigorous attention to operative detail. In this situation, an alternative procedure is suggested in the long term.