Clinical experience with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the aortobifemoral position.

Between 1981 and 1990, 18 patients (mean age 66.0 years) had aortobifemoral bypass with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bifurcated grafts. Twelve patients (66.7%) were treated for aortoiliac occlusive disease, 5 patients (27.8%) for abdominal aortic aneurysms and one patient (5.6%) had surgery for hypoplastic aortic syndrome. The authors' overall complication rate was 16.7 per cent and included formation of an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm (1/18, 5.6%), graft infection (1/18, 5.6%), and graft thrombosis (1/18, 5.6%). Sixteen patients were followed for a mean period of 41.4 months. In this subgroup of patients the patency rate was 93.8 per cent. The authors conclude that the PTFE bifurcated graft is a suitable conduit for use in aortobifemoral bypass surgery.