For a femorotibial bypass graft the material of choice is autologous vein. The question remains whether prosthetic material is a reasonable alternative for limb salvage, if autologous vein is not available. From 1991 to 1998, 83 consecutive femorotibial bypass procedures were performed in 70 @entity1 . Thin-walled, ringed 6-mm @entity736 ( @entity736 ) was used, as autologous vein was not available. The indication for the femorotibial bypass was critical @entity63 due to @entity731 in all cases. Three @entity1 died in the hospital or within 30 days of the operation, resulting in a perioperative mortality rate of 3.6%. After 5 years, 33 @entity1 had died (40%) and 3 @entity1 were lost to follow-up (3.6%). Primary patency was 64.2% after 6 weeks and 18% +/- 5% after 5 years. Secondary patency was 74.1% after 6 weeks and 22.3% +/- 6% after 5 years. When we compared primary and secondary patency for distal anastomosis, there was no difference between the three crural arteries. The limb salvage rate was 61.9% +/- 7% after 5 years. From these results we conclude that, with a limb salvage of 61.9%, PTFE is an acceptable alternative for a femorotibial bypass graft in @entity1 with critical @entity63 , if autologous vein is not available.

XXXX femorotibial bypass grafting: 5-year patency and limb salvage.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity736 :: ('CHEBI:53251', 'Chemical') :: ['PTFE', 'polytetrafluoroethylene'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerotic occlusive disease'] @entity63 :: ('MESH:D007511', 'Disease') :: ['ischemia']
@entity736 :: (CHEBI:53251,Chemical) :: ['Polytetrafluoroethylene']
