Arterial reconstruction with polytetrafluoroethylene: a preliminary report.

Early results of arterial reconstruction with reinforced expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the lower extremity have been obtained by reviewing 55 patients undergoing 59 operations - 38 femoropopliteal bypasses and 21 long bypasses distal to the popliteal artery. The one-year accumulated patency rates were 73% for the femoropopliteal bypass group and 50% for the long bypass group. Early results suggest that PTFE is superior to Dacron and is an acceptable substitute for autogenous saphenous vein when the latter is unavailable or of inadequate calibre.