Gore-Tex (polytetrafluoroethylene) in canine coronary artery bypass.

Because of the occasional need for a prosthesis in coronary artery operations, we investigated the potential use of microporous polytetrofluoroethylene (PTFE) with and without antiplatelet drugs as an aorta-coronary bypass graft in 43 dogs. In 13 animals without antiplatelet drugs, no grafts were patent at 1 month. When antiplatelet drugs were used (25 dogs), the 1 month patency rate increased to 64%. The addition of antibiotic treatment 1 month patency rate to 80%. The 6 month patency rate in dogs treated with antiplatelet drugs, preoperative bowel preparation, and systemic antibiotics was 60%. Our data indicate that microporous PTFE grafts used as coronary artery bypass grafts in dogs can be maintained patent for at least 6 months when the animals are treated with antiplatelet drugs.