Effect of prolonged intra-arterial prostaglandin E1 infusion on canine arterial graft patency.

This study examined the effect of long-term intra-arterial prostaglandin (PG) E1 infusion on the patency of canine femoral-artery grafts made of polytetrafluoroethylene and measuring 4 X 90 mm (diameter X length). An infusion catheter was placed proximal to one of the bilateral femoral-artery grafts and connected to a subcutaneously implanted infusion pump to continuously infuse PGE1 (1 ng/kg/min) in seven experimental dogs and vehicle alone in seven control dogs. Two-week graft patency was significantly higher in both infused (86%) and noninfused (100%) limbs of PGE1-treated dogs than in control dogs (29%). Although hind-limb blood flow was increased twofold to threefold by PGE1 infusion, graft patency did not improve. Prostaglandin E1 infusion did not significantly alter systemic platelet aggregation but did cause considerable hind-limb edema. Improved early graft patency, which did not persist beyond four weeks, was apparently related to systemic effects of local PGE1 infusion.