Prospective randomized study on bilateral above-knee femoropopliteal revascularization: Polytetrafluoroethylene graft versus reversed saphenous vein

Objective: Some controversy exists as to whether polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is equivalent to reversed saphenous vein (SV) as bypass graft material for above-knee femoropopliteal revascularization. We compared the 5-year patency rate with reversed SV and PTFE grafts in patients with claudication who underwent bilateral above-knee femoropopliteal revascularization. Methods: Between January 1994 and December 1997, 51 patients (102 limbs) with bilateral disabling claudication due to superficial femoral artery occlusion underwent above-knee femoropopliteal bypass grafting, with SV in one limb and PTFE graft in the other limb. Patients were randomly selected for sequential surgical treatment with either SV-PTFE or PTFE-SV. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate patency rate, and various factors were analyzed to ascertain any association with revascularization failure. Results: There was no perioperative (30 day) limb loss or death, but five late deaths (late survival rate, 90%). Mean follow-up was 59 months. In the SV group, three bypass grafts failed, requiring repeat operation in only one patient. In the PTFE group, eight bypass grafts failed, leading to five repeat operations. There was no statistically significant difference in primary "assisted" patency rate for the two grafts: 100%, 98%, and 94% for SV grafts, and 96%, 84%, and 84% for PTFE grafts (P =.09), after 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions. The overall results of this randomized study show that SV and PTFE grafts have a statistically comparable patency rate when used above the knee in patients with claudication. Use of SV, however, leads to fewer occlusions and repeat operations.