Results from a multicenter registry of heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft for above-the-knee femoropopliteal bypass.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to retrospectively analyze early and follow-up results of above-the-knee femoropopliteal bypasses (AKb) performed with a bioactive heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (HB-ePTFE) graft in patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease in a multicentric retrospective registry involving seven Italian vascular centers.

METHODS: During a 14-year period ending in March 2016, an HB-ePTFE graft was used in 1401 interventions performed for peripheral arterial obstructive disease. Comorbidities, risk factors, and follow-up outcomes were collected in a multicenter registry with a dedicated database. A post hoc analysis of the database was performed to identify 364 (25.9%) patients who underwent AKb. Early (intraoperative and <30 days) results were analyzed in terms of death, thrombosis, amputations, reinterventions, and the occurrence of major local and systemic complications. Follow-up results were analyzed by life-table analysis (Kaplan-Meier test) in terms of primary and secondary graft patency, assisted primary patency, limb preservation, and amputation-free survival. The analysis of follow-up results was stopped in December 2016.

RESULTS: In 61 (16.7%) patients, AKb was performed after the failure of a previous ipsilateral revascularization. Critical limb ischemia was present in 164 (45%) cases; the remaining patients had life-limiting intermittent claudication. Perioperative mortality occurred in three (0.8%) patients: in the hospital (n = 2) due to acute myocardial infarction and after discharge (n = 1) due to fatal arrhythmia. Early thromboses occurred in six (1.6%) patients; all these patients had primary AKb for critical limb ischemia. The cumulative rate of perioperative amputations was 0.5% (2 cases), whereas the cumulative rate of early reinterventions was 3% (11 cases). Median duration of follow-up was 28 months (range, 1-168 months); the median cumulative follow-up index for survival was 0.75 (range, 0.05-1). Estimated survival at 5 years was 75.3% (standard error [SE], 0.03). Estimated 5-year primary patency was 64% (SE, 0.04); the corresponding figure in terms of assisted primary patency was 65% (SE, 0.035). Secondary patency rate at 5 years was 74.5% (SE, 0.03). The rate of limb preservation at 5 years was 95% (SE, 0.02); the corresponding figure in terms of amputation-free survival was 74% (SE, 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: In an era of endovascular enthusiasm, with conflicting results for the treatment of long or complex lesions of the superficial femoral artery, AKb with the use of HB-ePTFE graft remains an effective option, with low rate of perioperative complications and satisfactory long-term results.