LONG OCCLUSION OF THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL -ARTERY - COMPLIANT GRAFT

We believe that the use of prosthetic grafts is justified in the treat ment of long occlusions of the superficial femoral artery. However the surgery should only be done in cases where patients are suffering fro m severe claudication and in cases of critical ischemia of the lower l imbs.We report herein the mid-term results of an European multicentric prospective study of a new prosthesis which is compliant, ultraporous and made of polycarbonate. We found a patency similar to that obtaine d with PTFE grafts as reported in the literature. In these indications , the choice of prosthetic grafts allows for a better management of at herosclerosis arterial disease. Thus autologous saphenous veins are st ill available to treat coronary artery disease or femoro tibial occlus ion which remain a frequent evolution in that type of patient.