N. Dobrilovic1,3, P. Soukas2, I. Sadiq4, J. Raman3 1Brown University School Of Medicine,Cardiovascular And Thoracic Surgery,Providence, RI, USA 2Brown University School Of Medicine,Cardiology,Providence, RI, USA 3Rush University Medical Center,Cardiovascular And Thoracic Surgery,Chicago, IL, USA 4Hartford Hospital,Cardiology,Hartford, CT, USA
Introduction: The CorMatrix biologic extracellular patch derived from porcine small intestinal mucosa provides a biologic scaffold for cellular ingrowth and eventual tissue regeneration. It has been used in a variety of applications including cardiac and vascular repair procedures. In the femoral artery position it potentially offers peripheral vascular patients the benefit of reducing foreign body burden in anticipation of multiple future procedures requiring femoral access.
Methods: CorMatrix was used as a patch arterioplasty for femoral artery repair in conjunction with endarterectomy for seven (n=7) separate procedures in six patients (one patient underwent staged, bilateral femoral procedures). The study was initially designed to prospectively follow operative results of ten consecutive procedures but was terminated early due to recognition of significant complications.
Results: Mean patient age was 68. Six of seven (86%) procedures were performed on male patients. There were no operative mortalities. Three of seven (43%) procedures resulted in significant early complications. One procedure (14%) resulted in groin pseudoaneurysm formation. Two procedures (29%) resulted in catastrophic biologic extracellular matrix patch disruption (11 and 19 days after initial procedure), requiring emergent exploration, patch removal and definitive repair with vein patch arterioplasty.
Conclusion: Use of CorMatrix patch in the femoral artery position demonstrates a high incidence of early postoperative complications including catastrophic patch disruption and pseudoaneurysm formation.