Surgical correction of aortic disease using intraluminal, crimped bovine pericardial graft.

ABSTRACT

We propose the use of a crimped bovine pericardial graft joined to a rigid and grooved ring for the treatment of aortic dissections and aneurysms. This device was developed to support common tubular vascular prostheses of any material, length, diameter, or form, transforming them into intraluminal ones during the surgical procedure. During March 1989 to May 1994, 74 patients underwent an operation on the aorta in which this intraluminal ring, prepared from a tubular prosthesis of bovine pericardium, was used. Twenty-seven patients had an acute type A aortic dissection, 6 had an acute type B aortic dissection, 10 had annuloaortic ectasia, 6 had a descending aortic aneurysm, 3 had a thoracoabdominal aneurysm, and 22 had an abdominal aneurysm. The global mortality rate of 10.8% in the immediate postoperative period cannot be related to the surgical technique or the type of prosthesis used. We conclude from our findings that this modification of the sutureless intraluminal graft, which allows it to be used to replace diseased segments of the aorta, affords the quickest and simplest means of repair and is attended by the least likelihood of anastomotic complications.