[Sparks grafts as arterial substitutes in the femoro-popliteal region with a postoperative follow-up of up to 54 months].

39 Sparks-Mandril grown grafts were implanted as arterial substitute in the femoropopliteal region and followed up for a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 57 months. At 7 instances it was not possible to perform the connecting procedure, 18.7% immediate occlusions, 28.2% early failures within the first postoperative year, 12.5% pseudoaneurysmal changes were noted. 13 patients (40.6%) demonstrated function for more than one year. Dilatation, elongation and parietal thrombosis over the whole length of the graft (2 cases) and late reocclusion turned out to be the main problems. Only 2 patients carry a properly functioning graft.