Angiographic assessment of biografts for femoropopliteal bypass.

A series of 257 femoropopliteal bypass procedures with a Biograft is analysed. The cumulative patency rate after 6 years is 64% for the whole series. This corresponds with a cumulative patency rate of 74% for AK cases and 44% for BK cases. Follow-up angiography to assess the morphology of the Biografts, was performed after 1 year and after 3-5 years. Angiography after 1 year (N = 126) showed few alterations: tortuosity in 3%, segmentation or wrinkling in 3%, slight diffuse dilatation in 4% and local stenosis in 2%. Angiography after 3-5 years (N = 82) revealed interesting changes. Besides tortuosity in 6% and segmentation in 29%, there were anastomotic aneurysms in 2%. Changes in the diameter of the body of the graft were remarkable and occurred in 46%. Diffuse regular or irregular dilatation, local ectasia or stenosis was found. Clinical implications are discussed.