ANALYSIS OF 274 OMNIFLOW VASCULAR PROSTHESES IMPLANTED OVER AN EIGHT-YEAR PERIOD

Background: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), dacron, and, more recently, collagen prostheses are finding increasing use for femoropopliteal reconstruction when a suitable vein is not available. The main factors to be considered when choosing a prosthesis are patency, susceptibility to infection and formation of aneurysms. Methods: Sheep collagen prostheses were implanted on 274 occasions in the femoropopliteal or crural regions. Results: The patency rate for supragenual bypass after 3 years was 61.9% with good vascular periphery and 44% with poor vascular periphery. If the prosthesis extended below the knee, the patency rate was 55.4% with good and 35.3% with unfavourable vascular periphery. Patency for the femorocrural bypass was 28.7% after 2 years. The rate of infection was 0% and an aneurysm occurred in three patients (1.1%). Conclusions: With this low infection rate and the very slight danger of aneurysm, the long‐term results suggest that the ovine collagen prosthesis can be recommended for use when no suitable vein is available.