[Twelve-year experience of bioprosthesis implantation into infrainguinal arteries]

The study presents the results of 315 infrainguinal artery reconstructions with bioprostheses from bovine internal mammary artery treated with 5% solution of diepoxide (trade name "KemAngioprosthesis"). Primary patency of KemAngioprostheses was 37.5% (n=239) in above-knee and 7.4% (n=52) in below-knee femoropopliteal bypasses in 8-year period, as well as 14.9% (n=24) in femorotibial bypass in 4.5-year period. Primary patency was significantly worse in cases of poor outflow from legs, lower limb critical ischemia, in cases of "end-to-side" anastomosis type, as well as in patients with concomitant ischemic heart disease and hypertension. KemAngioprostheses demonstrated no new or unknown complications. The most common complication was thrombosis (45.1%); infections occurred in 4.1%, hemorrhage - in 1% and biodegradation manifested by aneurysms and ectasia - in 1.9% cases. Indications for KemAngioprosthesis implantations include severe, limb-threatening ischemia with unavailable autologous vein or simultaneous two-segment arterial reconstructions in grade III-IV acute or chronic ischemia. Besides, KemAngioprostheses can be successfully used in above-knee femoropopliteal reconstructions.