A Comparative Evaluation Of EPTFE And Great Saphenous Vein Bypass Grafts For Femoropopliteal Revascularization

Objective:To valuate the patency rate and limb salvage rate of autologous great saphenous vein in comparison with those of ePTFE prosthetic graft for femoropopliteal bypass procedure.Methods:30 patients with lower extremity ischemia underwent femoropopliteal bypass procedure from Aug,2001 to Aug,2007.For the bypass graft,a saphenous vein was used in each of 14 cases of Group SV,and ePTFE prosthesis was used in each of 16 cases of Group ePTFE.Data of both groups were retrospectively studied. Patients with multi-segmental artery disease involved inflow or outflow vessels underwent procedures such as aotic-illiac bypass,iliac artery stent implantation, profundaplasty and popliteal-tibial bypass.Results:After 3 years,the cumulative primary patency rate was 78.6%for saphenous vein and 62.9%for ePTFE prosthesis,the cumulative limb salvage rate was 85.1% for saphenous vein and 69.2%for ePTFE prosthesis,there was no significant difference between them in overall primary patency rate(P=0.351) and cumulative limb salvage rate(P=0.624).Conclusion:The two femoropopliteal bypass grafts performed equally well in treatment of lower extremity ischemia caused by long segmental superficial femoral artery occlusion,ePTFE prosthetic graft is a reasonable alternative in above-knee bypass.Great saphenous vein should be the first choice in below-knee bypass.