[Preliminary results of a prospective randomized study vascular replacement above the knee]

In case of insufficient or missing greater saphenal vein or if the saphenal vein might be of important use for future bypass grafts, the question arises which alternative bypass material is the more appropriate choice. A literature review to that topic produced only unsatisfactory results. In a prospective randomized controlled clinical study (n = 250 patients) we compare the patency rates of either PTFE or Dacron as bypass material for femoropopliteal P-I-Bypass in chronic arterial occlusive disease. A preliminary evaluation of n = 103 patients (PTFE n = 52; Dacron n = 51) reveals an operative and immediate mortality rate of 0% and a loss of limb rate of 3.9% (PTFE) and 3.8% (Dacron). The secondary cumulative patency rate after 540 days of observation is 79.6% (PTFE) and 87.1% (Dacron). We so far find no statistically significant difference between both graft materials.