Femoropopliteal bypass with either adequate ipsilateral reversed saphenous vein or obligatory polytetrafluoroethylene

Abstract

The results are presented of a 10-year experience with 312 femoropopliteal bypasses performed in 285 patients using ipsilateral autologous reversed greater saphenous vein when available and adequate and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) when not. The indications for operation were severe claudication in 121 (39%), rest pain in 95 (30%), and minor tissue loss in 96 (31%) limbs. There were 235 (75%) saphenous vein bypasses, of which 157 were above and 78 below the knee, and 77 (25%) PTFE bypasses, 58 above and 19 below the knee. Of these, 232 (79%) saphenous vein and 62 (21%) PTFE bypasses were primary procedures. The 30-day mortality rate was 3% (7/285) and the 30-day amputation rate was 2% (6/312). Overall, 24 (10%) saphenous vein and 30 (39%) PTFE grafts ultimately failed. The cumulative primary patency of all bypasses was 77% +/- 4% (mean +/- 1 SE) (85% to 69%, 95% confidence interval) at 3 years and 75% +/- 4% (86% to 64%) at 5 years. Saphenous vein primary patency was superior to that of PTFE at 3 years, 87% +/- 4% (97% to 77%) vs. 54% +/- 12% (65% to 41%), (p < 0.01), and at 5 years, 81% +/- 6% (96% to 67%) vs. 48% +/- 16% (63% to 33%) (p < 0.01). Above-knee saphenous vein bypass primary patency was slightly better than below-knee patency at 3 years, 89% +/- 4% vs. 84% +/- 6%, and at 5 years, 83% +/- 7% vs. 80% +/- 8%. This was superior to above-knee PTFE patency at 3 years, 54% +/- 14%, and at 5 years, 34% +/- 16% (p < 0.01). The overall PTFE failure rate was three to four times that of the saphenous vein rate. These results strongly support the use of autologous greater saphenous vein for all femoropopliteal bypasses when it is available and of good quality. PTFE grafts are valuable secondary conduits when the vein is not available or is inadequate. This series was not randomized since PTFE was used only in patients with inadequate or unavailable ipsilateral greater saphenous veins. When this protocol was followed, the patency rate for greater saphenous vein was excellent and its use is recommended for femoropopliteal bypass when it is available and of good quality.