Initial experience wit polytetrafluoroethylene for extraanatomic bypass

Extraanatomic bypass using polytetrafluoroethylene is a satisfactory alternative to direct aortic surgery in poor risk patients and in patients who have had previous aortoiliac reconstruction. If the disease is limited to one side, a crossover graft gives very satisfactory results with a 1 year cumulative patency of 95.6 percent. Axillofemoral grafts also give satisfactory results, especially if episodes of thrombosis are treated promptly by thrombectomy, in which case flow will be restored in most cases, with an overall 1 year cumulative patency of 89.5 percent.