Original Article

Electromagnetic Determination of Blood Flow Through IMPRA (Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene) Graft

Surgery Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD

^* Direct communications to: Richard E. Michalik. M.D., Emory University Clinic. Dept. of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 1365 Clifton Road. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30322

Received: August 1983
Revised: December 1983
Accepted: January 1984

Abstract

The use of perivascular electromagnetic flow determination is an accepted diagnostic tool in reconstructive vascular surgery and like techniques are in widespread use in the laboratory. As yet, no prosthetic graft material has been available through which blood flow could be accurately determined in the acute setting. IMPRA^® an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in the form of a vascular prosthesis does permit such determination when pretreated with minute amounts of absolute ethanol.

Graphic data is presented to show the quality of flow signal that may be obtained through IMPRA^® as well as the accuracy of the signal with reference to flow determinations made through a fresh arterial segment under carefully controlled conditions.