Shoji Maeda

Late changes in a bovine graft: A case report

We treated a Japanese man with aneurysmal dilatation of the bovine graft transplanted for femorofemoral bypass. The reconstruction was performed successfully by the replacement with a Dacron graft 29 months after the first operation. Aneurysmal dilatation was observed over the entire length of the graft, and the wall of the graft was fragile. Disruption of collagen fibers and bleeding into the graft wall from the arteries which had been newly formed in abundance were extensive. The histological findings suggested that bovine grafts should be used for only a short period or for the replacement of small arteries.

Rotational digital angiography for the evaluation of iliac artery disease

Ten cases with iliac artery disease were evaluated using rotational angiography with revolution of the arm of the X-ray tube support unit. The tip of the catheter was advanced to the infrarenal aorta, and contrast medium was injected at a rate of 6–10 ml/second. Digital angiographic images from multiple projection angles were acquired at 15 frames/second with a rotation speed at about 10°/second and a range of greater than 90°. This method made it possible to detect ulcerations of the artery, which could not be visualized using conventional single-plane angiography. The three-dimensional structure of a dissection could also be visualized. In seven cases of occlusive iliac artery disease, comparison with rotational angiography revealed that anteroposterior views of single-plane angiography underestimated the extent of the disease in four cases and overestimated the extent of the disease in one case. In two cases, no additional clinical information was obtained. In conclusion, rotational angiography provides accurate three-dimensional information concerning the lumen of the iliac arteries.