Below-knee femoropopliteal bypass using externally supported polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts.

Twenty-seven externally supported polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts were implanted in the femoropopliteal position crossing the knee joint. All patients underwent surgery because of limb threatening ischemia (rest pain or gangrene). There was one early graft failure (successful thrombectomy). No patient died postoperatively. The mean follow-up period was 17.32 months (range 3-44 months). Cumulative patency rate for this follow-up period was 73%. Absence of kinking when bending the knee joint was determined by ankle Doppler pressure measurements and arteriography. If an adequate saphenous vein is not available for knee-crossing femoropopliteal bypass, externally supported PTFE can be used, yielding short-term patency rates comparable to those obtained with autologous venous bypasses.