[Bypass spanning the knee joint with synthetic prosthesis].

Synthetic tubes are the second choice for below-knee bypass materials. The ring-reinforced thin-walled Goretex-PTFE graft is an approved material which was tested in a multicenter study. The primary 3 years patency for below-knee femoral-popliteal bypass was 64%, for crural bypass 39%. A total of 195 grafts have been implanted. Long-term patency depends very much on the run-off conditions (81% in good and 43% in bad cases). The over-all limb salvage rate was 80% after 3 years.