Polytetrafluoroethylene Bifurcation Prosthesis for the Treatment of Aortoiliac Atherosclerotic Occlusive Disease: A 5-Year Clinical Trial

Abstract

During the period of 1984-1986, the authors have implanted 13 poly tetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bifurca tion grafts for the treatment of aor toiliac occlusive disease. The patients were 12 men and 1 woman, their mean age being 60.5 ± 6.3 years. The indi cations for aortoiliac reconstruction were limiting claudication in 6 pa tients and rest pain in 7 patients. Follow-up lasted forty-six ± seven months and included physical exami nation, measurement of the ankle- brachial pressure index, and ultra sonography. Arteriography was per formed exclusively in symptomatic patients. No operative deaths or major complications were recorded. Graft limb occlusion occurred in 2 patients, eight and twenty-two months after surgery, respectively. The five-year patency rate was 85 % . During follow-up, there was no evi dence of graft infection, kinking, stenosis, or dilatation. Neither peri- graft seroma nor anastomotic aneu rysm developed.