LeMaitre Vascular offer harvested arteries, veins and grafts that are used in surgical procedures performed with arteriotomy (an opening or cut of an artery wall) during cardiovascular surgery. These arteries/veins/grafts are harvested from donors and are stored for future use. The arteries, veins and grafts become an implant which helps seal or by bypass diseased or blocked veins/artery walls. The chief difference between arteries and veins is the job that they do. Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, and veins carry oxygen-poor blood back from the body to the heart. In addition, we purchase patches that are made from bovine for endarterectomy and vascular reconstruction procedures. Endarterectomy also known as Carotid Artery Surgery. Carotid endarterectomy is surgery that removes plaque buildup from inside a carotid artery in your neck. This surgery is done to restore normal blood flow to the brain to prevent a stroke if you already have symptoms of reduced blood flow. The bovine pericardium patch is used for precise closure during endarterectomy and vascular reconstruction procedures

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) LeMaitre Surgical implants are used in direct patient care. Without access to the donor material the hospital would not be able to offer certain surgical procedures that require this type of item and care, which in turn would drive patients elsewhere and result in a loss in revenue to the hospital.