Abstract
Knitted Dacron prostheses impregnated with gelatin to confer zero porosity (Gelseal Triaxial®) were implanted in 30 patients with thoracic or abdominal aneurysm, or atherosclerosis obliterance. The accumulation of effusion occurred postoperatively around the grafts at the same time when gelatin absorption might happen in two patients with DeBakey's type II and III b dissecting thoracic aortic aneurysm, resulting in mediastinitis and cardiac tamponade respectively, and in one with atherosclerosis obliterance. The graft is handy because of no requirement of preclotting, but the accumulation of effusion around the graft may occur. Therefore, the use of Gelseal Triaxial® should be prudent particularly in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm.
