Factors influencing patency of femoropopliteal artery bypass grafts.

An analysis of 276 femoropopliteal bypass procedures performed in 264 patients at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center over the past two decades showed a direct relationship of graft patency to preoperative popliteal artery runoff. Fuctional results were better than patency results. Sympathectomy and anticoagulation did not improve graft patency. The risk of amputation is outweighed by the benefits of restoration of blood flow to the ischemic extremity by a byass procedure.