Above-knee femoropopliteal reconstruction with polytetrafluoroethylene: a good alternative to saphenous vein bypass.

Over 6 1/2 years, 64 femoropopliteal bypasses were done on 55 patients, using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The PTFE was chosen because previous surgery or small diameter prohibited the use of saphenous vein. The distal anastomoses were always placed above the knee. Patency rates were 92% at 1 month, 76% at 1 year, 72% at 2 years and 59% at 3 years, and then reached a plateau of 55% at 4 years. When autogenous vein is not available, PTFE is the material of choice for femoropopliteal reconstruction. The results compare favourably with those using saphenous vein in an above-knee situation.