Objective:To explore the effect of high dose external beam radiation on the ePTFE prosthesis-arterial anastomosis.
Methods:The infrarenal abdominal aorta was replaced by ePTFE prosthesis graft in 20 dogs, and all the animals were randomly divided into 2 groups, including of irradiated groups and the control groups, which were or were not associated post-operative external radiation(35 Gy) to the anastomosis. All the animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after operation for histological and immunohistochemical examination of the prosthesis-arterial anastomosis.
Results:There was marked histological changes caused by 35 Gy external irradiation at the prosthesis-arterial anastomosis,but no disunion, rupture, or aneurysm was found at the anastomosis. Radiation did not increase the rate of thrombosis at the prosthesis. The result of immunohistochemical examination showed that two side of the anstomosis were CD34 positive. 
Conclusions:High dose of external beam(35 Gy) can cause marked histological changes at the prosthesis-arterial anastomosis, however, it will not exert negative effect on anastomosis in the short term.