Arterial Grafting in the Horse An Experimental Study

The feasibility of repairing an arterial defect with a graft was evaluated in the horse. Arterial autografts, venous autografts, and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular prostheses were used. Four 3 cm grafts of each type were used to replace a 3 cm section of medial palmar artery that had been removed from 12 forelimbs of 11 horses. Patency was assessed by arteriography performed 30 days after the grafting procedure. All four arterial autografts, one of four venous autografts, and two of four PTFE grafts were patent at 30 days. Thrombosis caused the failure of one venous autograft and two PTFE grafts. Fibrous replacement caused the failure of two venous autografts. Results indicate that arterial grafting is feasible in the horse.