Lower extremity bypass grafts have been used in the treatment of lower extremity arterial disease since the first successful saphenous vein graft procedure was performed in 1949. Since then, bypass grafts have become the treatment of choice for lower extremity revascularization and limb salvage1.
A wide variety of graft procedures that use both biologic and synthetic materials are currently being performed. Polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) is used in expanded synthetic grafts1.
Femorofemoral bypass is a procedure with insertion of a vascular prosthesis between the femoral arteries to bypass an occluded or injured iliac artery.
Late complications that result in graft stenosis or occlusion are most often related to intimal hyperplasia or atherosclerosis1.