Femoro-popliteal by-pass with bovine heterografts

Modified bovine heterografts were used in 28 patients, primarily extremity salvage problems, found to have unavailable or unusable saphenous veins. The accumulated 3 year patency rate was 35%. Of the 18 graft failures, 11 required major amputation. A high failure rate of 39% in the first six-month interval was observed. Electromagnetic flowmeter recording were of limited value in predicting patency. Continued evaluation of bovine grafts for femoro-popliteal reconstruction in the absence of saphenous vein is recommended.