Results of prosthetic grafts in femoro-crural bypass operations as compared to autogenous saphenous vein grafts.

Since 1971 175 femoro-crural bypasses were performed. Rest pain and gangrene were present in 90% of the cases; 28% had undergone previous surgery for ischemia of the same limb. The autogenous saphenous vein was the first choice and could be used in 81% of cases. Prosthetic material consisted consecutively of the regular PTFE (N = 12), the Dardik biograft (N = 13) and the thin-walled reinforced PTFE (N = 7). One dacron prosthesis was used. The two-year patency (Life-table) for the prostheses was 18%. Results of the composite grafts were as poor as those of complete prosthetic grafts. Saphenous vein grafts had a two-year patency of 70% and a five-year patency of 59%. Veno-venous anastomoses had no adverse influence on patency. Exploration of both legs for acceptable parts of the saphenous vein is indicated before the use of prosthetic material is justified.