A clinical experience with the NCGT graft.

A comparison of 130 grafts done in 101 patients included 47 veins, 25 Johnson & Johnson dialdehyde-starch-tanned collagen prostheses, and 58 NCGT grafts that had been followed for a 40-month period. This study had documented the fact that in spite of frequent poor runoff, a useful result is provided by the NCGT graft apparently due in part to its built-in nonthrombogenic structure providing a cumulative patency of 73%. The patency rate was even superior with venous bypasses. Therefore, we still feel that the autogenous vein provides the most useful bypass conduit available in vascular reconstruction. In situations where a vein could not be used or was not available the NCGT graft offers an equally useful nonthrombogenic surface to maintain prolonged patency. Thus, collagen appropriately modified can provide a useful prosthesis in vascular reconstruction.