Prognostic indicators in femoropopliteal and distal bypass grafts.

Over a period of six years, 265 femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal bypasses were performed in 243 patients with infrainguinal arterial occlusive disease. The cumulative patency rate for all grafts was 70.9 per cent at one year, 59.3 per cent at three years and 48.5 per cent at five years. Femoropopliteal bypasses showed a significantly better patency rate than femoral infrapopliteal grafts and autogenous vein grafts had a significantly higher patency rate than human umbilical vein grafts. No demonstrable difference in patency rates was shown in patients with and without diabetes. Synchronous proximal and distal revascularization for limb salvage in properly selected patients with multisegmental disease achieved a cumulative patency rate of 100 per cent at two years with no operative deaths. Therefore, this procedure is recommended, but individualization of treatment rather than routine synchronous repair is urged.