Long term results of 66 femoral-to-femoral by-pass grafts: a 9-year follow-up

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Abstract
Over an 8-year period, 66 femoral-to-femoral grafts were performed for unilateral iliac artery disease. The grafts were inserted retropubically with an operative mortality of 4·5 per cent. The minimum follow-up has been 12 months and cumulative patency 80 per cent at 6 years. Sixteen patients had critical ischaemia (preoperative Doppler ankle pressure < 40 mmHg) and 50 patients had severe ischaemia (preoperative ankle pressure > 40 mmHg). The graft significantly improved initial ankle pressures and this improvement was maintained at late follow-up (average 45 months). There was no evidence of a detrimental effect on the donor limb. Long term patency was adversely affected if there was preoperative critical ischaemia, a woven Dacron prosthesis was used or the patient continued to smoke.