[Infrainguinal bypass surgery of occlusive arteriosclerosis of the lower extremities using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular prostheses].

During the past 15 years, PTFE vascular prostheses have been employed as an alternative graft material in patients with peripheral arteriosclerosis of the lower extremity and no suitable autogenous saphenous vein for employment as a bypass route. PTFE is a porous polymer of teflon which becomes incorporated into the tissue by invasion of fibroblasts into the material after implantation. The result of the operation as indicated by the patency of the prosthesis depends on the length of the bypassed occluded arterial segment, the quality of the artery where the distal anastomosis is made, the preoperative fall in pressure in the extremity, coagulopathy and the development of intimal hyperplasia. The results after short bypass operations are insignificantly different from the results after the use of autologous saphenous vein. The use of PTFE in infrainguinal bypass operations is an acceptable alternative to autogenous saphenous vein.