Abstract
An exploration was made of an anastomotic insufficiency following revasculation using the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) vascular prosthesis. The EPTFE vascular prosthesis is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers (ca. 0.5μm) which are lined up in the direction of the long axis and bundled at the nodules. Hence, the mechanical properties of the EPTFE vascular prosthesis are specific to a certain direction; tensile force along the long axis direction due to a suture tends to tear the vascular wall of the prosthesis (partly because the suture is pulled parallel to the fiber bundle), while the prosthesis is very strong against tensile force in the circumferential direction (because the tensile force is applied perpendicular to the fiber bundle). When the distance from the cut edge of the EPTFE vascular prosthesis to the suture hole is less than 2mm, the strength of the vascular prosthesis against tensile force (along the long axis direction) depends on the distance; it increases as the distance did. At distances longer than 2mm from the edge, the tensile strength is constant. These results indicate that a suture should be placed at a point sufficiently distant from the cut edge of the prosthesis and a reinforced membrane is effective against tensile force (along the axis direction) applied at the cut edge of this prosthesis, but has the danger of peeling off if care is not taken.
