Femoropopliteal bypass using externally supported polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. Early results in a...

A multiinstitutional retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the externally supported PTFE graft to determine whether a nonkinking, noncompressible graft offers advantages in patency and limb salvage. We studied the results of 104 femoropopliteal arterial reconstructions performed on 99 patients between June 1981 and June 1983. The combined above-the-knee and below-the-knee cumulative patency rate at 2 years was 88 percent and the limb salvage rate was 97 percent. We found these results to be comparable to the patency typical of saphenous vein grafts and better than that of reinforced PTFE grafts. The improved patency is due to the lack of kinking and compressibility of the externally supported PTFE graft, as well as histologic evidence of excellent collagen infiltration which stabilizes the graft in position. A longer follow-up period is certainly needed to make definite recommendations, but our preliminary studies are encouraging.