Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the efficacy of the knitted Da cron Velour Externally Supported (EXS) graft in the patency of femoro popliteal, especially below-the-knee femoropopliteal, arterial revascular ization.
Through the end of March, 1988, 62 EXS grafts had been implanted for 43 anatomic and 19 extraana tomic bypasses. Of these, 34 grafts in 28 patients were for femoropopliteal surgery. They were 25 men and 3 women with a mean age of 67.4 years. The location of distal anasto mosis was as follows: 17 grafts were to the popliteal artery above the knee and 17 were below the knee.
Cumulative patency rates, calcu lated by the life table method, were as follows: 93.1% and 77.8% at one year, for above and below the knee, respectively; 64.4% and 77.8%, re spectively, at two and a half years; and 64.4% at four years for above the knee. The longest case of BK is three and a half years. Therefore, there is no 4-year patency rate for BKs. There were no statistical differences between above- and below-the-knee popliteal anastomosis. Postoperative angiograms show no kinking or ste nosis at the anastomosis site of a be low-the-knee popliteal artery in bending position.
These results suggest that the da cron EXS graft is suitable even for below-the-knee femoropopliteal arte rial surgery, showing results similar to those with autologous vein grafts. A longer follow-up period and a larger number of grafts are necessary for firmer conclusions.
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