Femorodistal PTFE bypass grafting for severe limb ischaemia: Results of a prospective clinical study using a new distal anastomotic technique

Objectives: to analyse graft patency and limb salvage following femorodista l bypass with ePTFE using a new distal anastomotic technique. Design: prospective non-randomized study. Material and methods: one hundred and twenty-nine patients (M:F; 2.23:1; me an age 65.2 +/- 10.0 years) underwent 135 operations for severe limb ischem ia. The new anastomosis, constructed entirely from ePTFE, was attached to t he popliteal (21), anterior (46) and posterior (52) tibial, and peroneal (1 6) arteries. Cumulative primary (PPR) and secondary patency rates (SPR), li mb salvage and survival were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: median follow-up was 45 (range 6 to 72) months. There was no perio perative mortality. PPR and SPR at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years were 63.0%, 44.9%, 3 5.7%, 33.1% and 27.6% and 74.5%, 55.2%, 44.8%, 43.0%, and 37.6%, respective ly. Cumulative limb salvage was 86.4%, 78.7%, and 73.2% at 1, 3, and 5 year s, respectively. Conclusions: this new anastomotic design was feasible and resulted in accep table long-term results.