FACTORS AFFECTING PATENCY OF FEMOROPOPLITEAL BYPASS GRAFTS

Abstract

A 16 yr review of femoropopliteal bypass grafts identified 5 factors with significant influence on long term patency. Most important was the nature of the graft itself, with vein grafts having superior long term performance as compared to a variety of prosthetic grafts. Arteriographic runoff, indications for operation, site of the distal anastomosis and prior femoropoliteal operation had a major influence on long term patency of prosthetic grafts but rather minimal effects on the patency of autogenous vein grafts. The influence of several variables proved cumulative, leading to a favorable subset of patients in whom prosthetic grafts may approach long term performance of vein grafts. Differences in such key variables is a major contribution to the widely differing patency rates of previous studies and must be carefully controlled in any future prospective studies.