Comparison of Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene and Greater Saphenous vein Grafts in Above-Knee Arterial Bypass Grafting Operations

Objective: We aimed to compare patency rates of greater saphenous vein and ringed expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts in patients undergoing femoropopliteal bypass grafting. Material and Methods: The clinical records of 29 patients with Fontaine IIb-IV peripheral artery disease symptoms who underwent femoro-popliteal bypass grafting between January 2012 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of graft used: A ringed PTFE graft was used in patients in Group 1 (n=17, mean age: 62.46±12.24 years, female/male ratio: 6/11), and a reversed greater saphenous vein graft was used in patients in Group 2 (n=12, mean age: 63.16±11.07 years, female/male ratio: 5/7), Follow-up information was gathered during a period of 12 months after the operation, and included clinical information and graft patency. Vascular surgeons who performed the operations determined operation techniques and the type of vascular grafts. Results: Early graft failure within 30 days was not seen in either groups, One patient in Group 1 underwent a re-intervention for graft failure. This patient had a patent graft at the end of the follow-up period, One-year primary patency rate was 94 and 100 in Groups 1 and 2 respectively whereas secondary patency rate was 100 in both groups. Conclusion: Both type of grafts provided satisfactory one-year patency rates in treatment of femoro-popliteal artery disease. Greater saphenous vein seems to require less re-intervention than PTFE graft in treatment of femoro-popliteal artery stenosis.