Biological dressings for exposed vascular grafts: a reasonable alternative.

The frequent application of split thickness porcine skin grafts to cover an exposed vascular repair is a reasonable alternative to amputation in patients with severe extremity injury. It is essential that soft-tissue debridement be complete and at least one wall of the exposed vascular repair be supported by healthy, viable muscle. Limb salvage was achieved in seven of nine patients in whom this technique was used, including two patients with exposed Dacron grafts.