@article{3052040,
    title = "PTFE-vein composite grafts for critical limb ischaemia: a valuable
alternative to all-autogenous infrageniculate reconstructions",
    author = "Bastounis, E and Georgopoulos, S and Maltezos, C and Alexiou, D and and Chiotopoulos, D and Bramis, J",
    journal = "European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery",
    year = "1999",
    volume = "18",
    number = "2",
    pages = "127-132",
    publisher = "W B SAUNDERS CO LTD",
    issn = "1078-5884, 1532-2165",
    doi = "10.1053/ejvs.1999.0880",
    keywords = "composite graft; critical ischaemia; femorocrural reconstruction",
    abstract = "Objectives: to analyse the long-term results of primary composite bypass
grafts comparing them to PTFE and vein grafts.
Design: a retrospective observational study.
Materials and methods: between 1980 and 1996, 568 primary
infrageniculate bypass procedures were performed; a saphenous-vein graft
was used in 428 procedures, a PTFE graft in 44 and a composite
PTFE-saphenous-vein graft in 96. Thirty-six composite grafts were below
the knee and the remaining 60 extended more distally. Twenty-one bypass
grafts from the latter group were sequential. Mean follow-up was 45.6
months. Five-year primary and secondary patency and limb salvage rates
were compared by life-table analysis.
Results: cumulative 5-year primary patency for composite grafts was 58%
and for saphenous-vein grafts 74%, while secondary patency rate was
75% and 82%, respectively (p<0.05). The 5-year limb salvage late was
80% for composite grafts and 88% for saphenous-vein grafts (p>0.05).
The primary and secondary patency and limb salvage rate for PTFE grafts
was 24%, 31% and 40%, respectively.
Conclusion: Composite grafts of PTFE and saphenous vein are
significantly superior to PTFE graft alone and should be used in
patients who lack sufficient length of saphenous vein."
}