Femoropopliteal bypass with either adequate ipsilateral reversed saphenous vein or obligatory polytetrafluoroethylene. 1994

J P Archie
Wake Medical Center, Raleigh, N.C.

The results are presented of a 10-year experience with 312 femoropopliteal bypasses performed in 285 patients using ipsilateral autologous reversed greater saphenous vein when available and adequate and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) when not. The indications for operation were severe claudication in 121 (39%), rest pain in 95 (30%), and minor tissue loss in 96 (31%) limbs. There were 235 (75%) saphenous vein bypasses, of which 157 were above and 78 below the knee, and 77 (25%) PTFE bypasses, 58 above and 19 below the knee. Of these, 232 (79%) saphenous vein and 62 (21%) PTFE bypasses were primary procedures. The 30-day mortality rate was 3% (7/285) and the 30-day amputation rate was 2% (6/312). Overall, 24 (10%) saphenous vein and 30 (39%) PTFE grafts ultimately failed. The cumulative primary patency of all bypasses was 77% +/- 4% (mean +/- 1 SE) (85% to 69%, 95% confidence interval) at 3 years and 75% +/- 4% (86% to 64%) at 5 years. Saphenous vein primary patency was superior to that of PTFE at 3 years, 87% +/- 4% (97% to 77%) vs. 54% +/- 12% (65% to 41%), (p < 0.01), and at 5 years, 81% +/- 6% (96% to 67%) vs. 48% +/- 16% (63% to 33%) (p < 0.01). Above-knee saphenous vein bypass primary patency was slightly better than below-knee patency at 3 years, 89% +/- 4% vs. 84% +/- 6%, and at 5 years, 83% +/- 7% vs. 80% +/- 8%. This was superior to above-knee PTFE patency at 3 years, 54% +/- 14%, and at 5 years, 34% +/- 16% (p < 0.01). The overall PTFE failure rate was three to four times that of the saphenous vein rate. These results strongly support the use of autologous greater saphenous vein for all femoropopliteal bypasses when it is available and of good quality. PTFE grafts are valuable secondary conduits when the vein is not available or is inadequate. This series was not randomized since PTFE was used only in patients with inadequate or unavailable ipsilateral greater saphenous veins. When this protocol was followed, the patency rate for greater saphenous vein was excellent and its use is recommended for femoropopliteal bypass when it is available and of good quality.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007383 Intermittent Claudication A symptom complex characterized by pain and weakness in SKELETAL MUSCLE group associated with exercise, such as leg pain and weakness brought on by walking. Such muscle limpness disappears after a brief rest and is often relates to arterial STENOSIS; muscle ISCHEMIA; and accumulation of LACTATE. Claudication, Intermittent
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010146 Pain An unpleasant sensation induced by noxious stimuli which are detected by NERVE ENDINGS of NOCICEPTIVE NEURONS. Suffering, Physical,Ache,Pain, Burning,Pain, Crushing,Pain, Migratory,Pain, Radiating,Pain, Splitting,Aches,Burning Pain,Burning Pains,Crushing Pain,Crushing Pains,Migratory Pain,Migratory Pains,Pains, Burning,Pains, Crushing,Pains, Migratory,Pains, Radiating,Pains, Splitting,Physical Suffering,Physical Sufferings,Radiating Pain,Radiating Pains,Splitting Pain,Splitting Pains,Sufferings, Physical
D011138 Polytetrafluoroethylene Homopolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. Nonflammable, tough, inert plastic tubing or sheeting; used to line vessels, insulate, protect or lubricate apparatus; also as filter, coating for surgical implants or as prosthetic material. Synonyms: Fluoroflex; Fluoroplast; Ftoroplast; Halon; Polyfene; PTFE; Tetron. FEP,Fluon,Politef,Polytef,TFE,Teflon,Expanded PTFE,Fluoroplast,GORE-TEX,Goretex,PTFE,Tarflen,GORE TEX,PTFE, Expanded
D011150 Popliteal Artery The continuation of the femoral artery coursing through the popliteal fossa; it divides into the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Arteria Poplitea,Artery, Popliteal,Popliteal Arteries
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011475 Prosthesis Failure Malfunction of implantation shunts, valves, etc., and prosthesis loosening, migration, and breaking. Prosthesis Loosening,Prosthesis Durability,Prosthesis Migration,Prosthesis Survival,Durabilities, Prosthesis,Durability, Prosthesis,Failure, Prosthesis,Failures, Prosthesis,Loosening, Prosthesis,Loosenings, Prosthesis,Migration, Prosthesis,Migrations, Prosthesis,Prosthesis Durabilities,Prosthesis Failures,Prosthesis Loosenings,Prosthesis Migrations,Prosthesis Survivals,Survival, Prosthesis,Survivals, Prosthesis
D001807 Blood Vessel Prosthesis Device constructed of either synthetic or biological material that is used for the repair of injured or diseased blood vessels. Vascular Prosthesis,Blood Vessel Prostheses,Tissue-Engineered Vascular Graft,Graft, Tissue-Engineered Vascular,Grafts, Tissue-Engineered Vascular,Prostheses, Blood Vessel,Prostheses, Vascular,Prosthesis, Blood Vessel,Prosthesis, Vascular,Tissue Engineered Vascular Graft,Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts,Vascular Graft, Tissue-Engineered,Vascular Grafts, Tissue-Engineered,Vascular Prostheses,Vessel Prostheses, Blood,Vessel Prosthesis, Blood
D005260 Female Females

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