CLINICAL EXPERIENCE OF NEW GELATIN IMPREGNATED WOVEN DACRON GRAFT

Abstract

New gelatin impregnated woven Dacron grafts (Gelweave) were used for 32 patients with aortic diseases. Gelweave was easy to penetrate by the needle and nice in the handling. Only one patient (3%) died due to acute myocardial infarction after the surgery. Other 31 patients (97%) discharged and returned to their daily life. Abnormal fever and inflammatory response was not detected in this series. No bleeding from the graft itself was observed in all patients. However, some patients showed the needle hole bleeding after the anastomosis using cardiopulmonary bypass. 4-0 or 5-0 suture material is preferred to prevent the needle hole bleeding. No other complication was observed in the perioperative period and in the intermediate follow up. Gelweave is the useful graft for replacement of the aorta.