LARGE-CALIBER CRYOPRESERVED ARTERIAL ALLOGRAFTS IN VASCULAR RECONSTRUCTIVE OPERATIONS - EARLY EXPERIENCE

Between October 1992 and June 1994, 16 patients (mean age, 55.6 years) underwent vascular reconstruction using cryopreserved arterial allografts. Aortoiliac aneurysms, vascular infections, and trauma accounted for the majority of case diagnoses. Twenty allografts were implanted. Two patients died in the hospital (12.5%) and 1 patient died 9 months after the operation. Early patency rate on angiography is 92.9%. Follow-up averages 8.2 months. Large-caliber cryopreserved arterial vascular allografts seem to provide satisfactory clinical results.