Predictive factors for thrombosis of PTFE femoropopliteal bypass grafts and the management of this complication.

Fifty PTFE (Goretex) femoropopliteal bypasses were performed for intermittent claudication (23 pts), rest pain (12 pts) or loss of tissue (15 pts). Thirty-one grafts occluded during the follow-up period up to 39 months, 19 grafts were patent. The two groups are compared regarding severity of ischaemia, outflow tract, distal anastomosis and ankle brachial ratio. Except for the severity of ischaemia, these factors showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups. A total of 51 reoperations were performed on 31 thrombosed grafts. Only one of the 24 thrombectomies was successful. A new PTFE or composed grafts never remained patent during the follow-up. Only four of the eight new venous bypasses had a long-term patency. Thrombosis of 31 PTFE femoropopliteal bypass led to amputation in 14 cases.