Axillofemoral bypass reconstructions in sixty-one patients with leg ischemia.

During a 5-year period, 61 axillofemoral bypass operations have been performed in patients regarding as poor risks for conventional bifurcations procedures with arteriosclerotic occlusive disease and in patients with graft infections. Velour-Dacron grafts and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-grafts have been used. The results are encouraging with a 3 year graft patency rate of 75% and a 3 year limb salvage rate of 90%. The expanded PTFE graft is a suitable graft for this purpose, and the use of axillofemoral bypass grafting is recommended as an alternative to the conventional aortoiliac/femoral bypass graft when dealing with high risk patients and patients with graft infections.