Long-term experience in autologous in vitro endothelialization of infrainguinal ePTFE grafts.

Objective: Based on a previous randomized study showing significantly superior patency rates for in vitro endothelialized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts we investigated whether it was feasible for a nontertiary institution to offer autologous in vitro endothelialization to all elective infrainguinal bypass patients who had no suitable saphenous vein available.

Methods: Over a period of 15 years, 310 out of 318 consecutive nonacute patients (age 64.7 +/- 8.

[Implantation of the ProDisc intervertebral disk prosthesis for the lumbar spine].

Objective: To eradicate treatment-resistant lower back pain caused by painful degeneration of the intervertebral disks. To avoid the disadvantages of alternative fusion surgery, especially degenerative wear and tear on adjacent segments, by maintaining the mobility of the affected motion segments.

Indications: Treatment-resistant lower back pain due to painful degeneration of the intervertebral disks ("degenerative disk disease").

The bridge graft: a new concept for infrapopliteal surgery.

Background: The long-term results of ePTFE grafts are particularly poor in crural reconstructions. We report on a novel surgical technique, whereby both run-off and anastomotic mismatches are concomitantly addressed.

Patients And Methods: Short segments of vein grafts (5-15 cm in length) were used to bridge two crural artery segments.

Clinical autologous in vitro endothelialization of 153 infrainguinal ePTFE grafts.

Background: Over the past 17 years, our group has developed and clinically applied an in vitro endothelialization procedure whereby infrainguinal expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prostheses are confluently lined with cultured autologous endothelial cells before implantation. After a successful randomized pilot study from 1989 to 1993, the procedure was adopted for routine operations.

Methods: Since June 1993, 153 endothelialized ePTFE grafts were implanted in the infrainguinal position in 136 patients (102 above knee (AK) and 51 below knee (BK), 89 men and 47 women, mean age 64.

Crystalloid versus blood cardioplegia in coronary by-pass surgery. A prospective, randomized, controlled study in 100 consecutive adults.

In a prospective randomized trial we investigated the benefit of blood versus asanguinous cardioplegia in routine coronary by-pass grafting. One hundred consecutive adult patients were randomly assigned to two groups: Group A (53 patients) received cold blood cardioplegia and group B (47 patients) had standard St. Thomas solution.