Fibrocollagenous tissue tube as a small arterial substitute.

A new arterial graft, a fibrocollagenous tissue tube supported by polyester mesh, was evaluated as a substitute for a small caliber artery. The graft of 3 mm in internal diameter and 3.5 to 5.7 cm in length were implanted into the external iliac arteries of 24 dogs. The patency rate of the graft was 73% from 0 to 7 months following the operation. The newly formed vascular wall was soft and stable. The graft showed good endothelization of the neointima.