One hundred percent patency of one‐millimeter polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore‐tex) grafts in the carotid arteries of rats

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene arterial interposition grafts with an internal diameter of 1.0 mm were placed in the carotid arteries of rats. At 2 weeks, 100% patency rate was achieved by the use of strict sterile technique in 23 rats. In contrast, only 1 out of 21 grafts remained open in rats operated using standard clean but nonsterile technique, 5% patency. All thrombosed grafts showed evidence of infection. Orally administered aspirin at therapeutic doses prolonged bleeding times in the rats but did not affect patency results in either group.