Arterial substitution in lower extremity trauma: autogenous vein vs polytetrafluoroethylene.

This review article compares the two most commonly used grafts, autogenous saphenous vein and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), for treatment of arterial trauma. Late graft occlusion is more common with PTFE, but PTFE may be better in situations where infection is a concern and extra-anatomic bypass is not possible. When infected, saphenous vein is much more of a risk because of its tendency to undergo sudden hemorrhagic disruption. PTFE grafts usually show only moderate suture line bleeding, which alerts the surgeon to the presence of a problem with the graft.