Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene as a small artery replacement. A preliminary report.

Recent laboratory and clinical investigations have demonstrated a specific configuration of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to be a superior biocompatible material for small artery replacement. Twenty such vascular grafts have been implanted in eighteen patients. Grafts were placed in the femoropopliteal or femoral posterior tibial or anterior tibial positions in fifteen patients and in the aortorenal position in three patients. The early results have been satisfying as judged by follow-up angiography and/or clinical examination. There has been no aneurysmal formation in this series of Impragrafts. No infections have been noted. We believe that Impragraft may offer a logical substitute for the inadequate or surgically absent saphenous vein autograft.