• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.691-697
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• 1984

After the real birth of vascular surgery occurred with the introduction of the first practical arterial prosthesis about 50 years ago, a variety of potential vascular graft had been tested and rejected. Polytetrafluoroethylene [Teflon, PTFE] was first used as a vascular prosthesis in 1957. Thereafter this pros-thesis was first used clinically in 1972 and has subsequently been widely applied as a small and medium sized vessel replacement because it is easy to use and readily available. There are numerous reports of good results about Polytetrafluoroethylene graft. We experienced the three cases of arterial bypass graft using polytetrafluoroethylene vascular pros-thesis. First, 21 years old female patient had suffered from Takayasus disease which affected the left subclavian artery and right subclavian-left axillary extra anatomical bypass graft as done. Second, 64 years old male patient had suffered from Leriche syndrome for 12 years and the left axillofemoral and femorofemoral extra anatomical bypass graft was done. Third, 34 years old male patient had suffered from recurrent Buergers disease which affected the left popliteal artery and the isolated popliteal artery segment bypass graft was done. Relatively satisfactory result was obtained in early post-operative period in all three cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.389-390
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• 2005

We report a case of a 48-year-old woman with end-stage renal failure who had a Polytetrafluoroethylene graft for hemodialysis and who had developed complications of venous outflow stenosis and venous backflow. Although venous backflow is an harbinger of graft failure, it is not enough reason to abandon the graft immediately. The patient was able to utilize her graft for 6 further months.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 1986

Sixty-nine patients with various types of cyanotic congenital heart disease underwent systemic-pulmonary artery shunts with a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] prosthesis between 1979 and 1985. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 39 years [mean$\pm$SD: 5.2$\pm$7.4, median: 3.3 years]. Diagnosis included the following: Tetralogy of Fallot, 45: Double outlet right or left ventricle, 11: Single ventricle, .5: Transposition of great vessels, 4: Tricuspid atresia, 3 and Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, 1. Forty-eight patients had subclavian-pulmonary artery anastomosis, 12 patients aorta-right pulmonary artery anastomosis, 6 patients aorta-main pulmonary artery anastomosis, and 3 patients descending aorta-pulmonary artery anastomosis. The PTEE graft of 3 mm in diameter was used in 1, 4 mm in 29, 5 mm in 35 and 6 mm in 4 patients. Ten patients were died within 30 days after operation [mortality rate: 14.5%]. Among them, 6 patients were operated in urgency due to cardiac arrest or severe anoxic spell after cardiac catheterization, and so surgical mortality of elective operation is 9.5%. The 59 survivors showed improvement of the arterial oxygen saturation [65.4% - 9.8%] and hemoglobin [18.8 gm/dl - 16.0 gm/dl] values [V<0.01]. The follow up period ranged from 1 month to 67 months, [752 patient-months] and during this periods there were 4 late shunt failures after 3 months postoperatively with 4 mm graft, and 2 with 5 mm graft. The over-all patency rate of 4 mm PTFE was 85.9$\pm$9.2% [SEM] in 12 months and 40.9$\pm$22.5% in 24 months. The over-all patency rate of 5 mm PTFE was 87.5$\pm$9.6% in 12 months and 58.3$\pm$24.6% in 36 months. The lowest systolic pressure in death group was 64.9$\pm$15.0 mmHg and in survival group, 86.4$\pm$12.1 mmHg [P<0.001]. We think that the PTFE graft is useful in palliative shunt operation, but the effectiveness of the 4 mm PTFE graft may be limited. The blood pressure also may play an important role in patency of Prosthesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.413-417
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• 2024

A 70-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, using a HeartWare ventricular assist device, as a bridge to candidacy. After 26 months, computed tomography (CT) angiography indicated stenosis in the LVAD outflow graft; however, the patient was asymptomatic, prompting a decision to manage his condition with close monitoring. Ten months later, the patient presented with dizziness and low-flow alerts. Subsequent CT angiography revealed a critical obstruction involving the entire LVAD outflow graft. The patient underwent emergency surgery, during which an organized seroma causing the graft obstruction was found between a wrapped expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft and a Dacron outflow graft. The covering of the outflow graft was removed, along with the organized seroma. Following removal of the ePTFE wrap and decompression of the outflow graft, normal LVAD flow was reestablished. The practice of wrapping the outflow graft with synthetic material, commonly done to facilitate later redo sternotomy, may pose a risk for outflow graft obstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.314-319
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• 1985

Nineteen patients with various types of cyanotic congenital heart disease underwent systemic-pulmonary artery shunts with a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE] graft between September, 1983, and April, 1985. Age ranged from 3 months to 18 years, and seven of them were less than 12 months old. There were seventeen Great Ormond Street type of modified Blalock-Taussig shunts, and two central polytetrafluoroethylene shunt [ascending aorta-right pulmonary artery]. There was one postoperative death [1/19=5.3%] in a 10 Kg child born with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect associated with patent ductus arteriosus. He had another anomaly of imperforated anus. Relief from cyanosis was achieved in other eighteen patients with variable degree. Eighteen survivors have been followed up from 1 month to 19 months. Clinical status, auscultation, oxygen partial pressure of arterial blood, and hemoglobin have been used to establish shunt patency in all survivors. By above criteria, all survivors have good patent shunt.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.883-888
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• 1996

Expanded polytertrafluoroethylene (expanded PTFE) graft fistulas are widely used as secondary vascu- lar access for patients receiving long-term hemodialysis treatment. We implanted 48 grafts in )5 patients during the period from August 1990 to August 1995. Forty-three grafts in 32 patients were followed for 1 to 46 months. We performed forearm straight grafts in 36 grafts and upperarm straight grafts in 7 grafts. We experienced 3 operative failures, 22 early and late complications(15 graft thrombosis). Cumulative patency for all grafts at 12 months was 63%, at 24 months 32%, at 36 months 32% Forearm graft survival at 12 months was 55%, at 24 months 30%, at )6 months 30%. Upperarm graft survival at 12 months was 8)oyo and 24 months 41%. After reviewing our experience, we think that expanded-PTFE grart as secondary vascular access still have many complications and low survival than autogenous a teriovenous fistula. And so utilization of the expanded PTFE fistula requires better techniques, close observation and maintenance to keep it functional.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.281-285
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• 2010

Hemodialysis vascular access dysfunction (HVAD) due to the aggressive development of venous neointimal hyperplasia remains a major complication for patients with synthetic arteriovenous grafts. Paclitaxel-coated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts effectively prevent neointimal hyperplasia and stenosis. However, perigraft inflammation or edema can be another complication of ePTFE grafts, preventing early cannulation. Three different types of ePTFE grafts, including grafts without paclitaxel coating (control group, n = 12), grafts with paclitaxel coating at a dose density of $0.61ug/mm^2$ (low concentration group, n = 12), and grafts with paclitaxel coating at a dose density of $1.15ug/mm^2$ (high concentration group, n = 12) were placed in the backs of 12 rabbits, simultaneously. Six rabbits were euthanized after one week and the remaining six were euthanized two weeks after implantation. Perigraft inflammation, graft wall inflammation, stromal cell proliferation, blood vessel formation, tissue necrosis and edema were analyzed for the grafts in each animal. Inflammation surrounding the paclitaxel-coated grafts was significantly reduced compared to the control group. Stromal cell layers were detected at the interface between the graft and the surrounding tissue in the control group, infiltrated into the graft interstices, and differentiated into myofibroblasts for graft healing. Paclitaxel-coated grafts inhibited stromal cell proliferation and infiltration into the graft wall. Tissue necrosis and edema were not detected in either of the paclitaxel-coated graft groups.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.176-176
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• 2002

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.371-377
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• 2017

Background: Lesions in distal target arteries hinder surgical bypass procedures in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Methods: Between April 2012 and October 2015, 16 patients (18 limbs) with lifestyle-limiting claudication (n=12) or chronic critical limb ischemia (n=6) underwent femoral-above-knee (AK) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts with a bridging stent graft placement between the distal target popliteal artery and the PTFE graft. Ring-supported PTFE grafts were used in all patients with no available vein for graft material. Follow-up evaluations assessed clinical symptoms, the ankle-brachial index, ultrasonographic imaging and/or computed tomography angiography, the primary patency rate, and complications. Results: All procedures were successful. The mean follow-up was 12.6 months (range, 11 to 14 months), and there were no major complications. The median baseline ankle-brachial index of 0.4 (range, 0.2 to 0.55) significantly increased to 0.8 (range, 0.5 to 1.0) at 12 months (p<0.01). The primary patency rate at 12 months was 83.3%. The presenting symptoms resolved within 2 weeks. Conclusion: In AK bypasses with a diffusely diseased distal target popliteal artery or when below-knee (BK) bypass surgery is impossible, this procedure could be clinically effective and safe when used as an alternative to femoral-BK bypass surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.417-419
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• 2020

Surgeons avoid creating arteriovenous fistulae in obese patients owing to deep vessels, cannulation complications, and inconsistent outcomes. We describe placing an arteriovenous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft between the brachial artery and axillary vein to avoid these complications. A 39-year-old super-obese woman with end-stage renal disease had undergone several hemodialysis access procedures on both arms. We traced the course of the arteriovenous graft course with the patient sitting and lying down. The ideal course was more accurate with the patient sitting; thus, the patient sat when the course was drawn, before lying on the operating bed. The PTFE graft was placed between the right brachial artery and axillary vein, according to the course in the opposite arm. No anastomotic dehiscence or pseudoaneurysm has taken place during 2 years of follow-up. In super-obese patients, the ideal course for arteriovenous grafts should be drawn while they are sitting, avoiding skin folds. This tip could avoid anastomotic dehiscence and pseudoaneurysm between the axillary vein and a PTFE graft.