Four years experience with dacron-velour vascular prostheses in the femoro-popliteal region.

A 4 year retrospective analysis of the results in a consecutive series of 83 dacron-velour-prosthesis and the factors that were of influence on the results are described. A total of 117 primary and secondary operations were performed on the 83 limbs. The overall patency rate was 80% when the distal anastomosis could be made above the knee, but was only 54% when the distal anastomosis lay below knee-level. Seven limbs had to be amputated below the knee. In the above knee situation the dacron-velour-prosthesis proved to be a usefull alternative for the autogenous vein graft. Below the knee, the prosthesis should only be used in cases of threatening limb-loss.