Heparin-Bonded Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Is a Solution for Infrapopliteal Revascularization in the Absence of an Adequate Autologous Vein Graft.

Background: To analyze the outcomes of heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (HePTFE) graft as an alternative conduit in infrapopliteal revascularization of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in the absence of an autologous vein conduit.

Methods: A single-center retrospective analysis of patients with CLTI submitted to infrapopliteal bypasses with autologous vein graft (VEIN group) or HePTFE graft (HePTFE group) was implemented. Primary end points were freedom from CLTI at 12 months and recurrence of CLTI at 3 years. Secondary end points included freedom from major amputation, amputation-free survival (AFS), survival, and primary (PP) and secondary patency (SP) rates at 3 years of follow-up.

Results: A total of 348 limbs submitted to infrapopliteal bypasses, 214 with venous graft and 134 with HePTFE graft, were followed-up for a median of 25 months. Most patients of the HePTFE group were male (69%), with a median age of 76 years (interquartile range [IQR] 15). Fifty-nine percent of the limbs of the HePTFE group had Wound grade ≥2, being 46% of them infected. Eighty-eight percent were GLASS stage III. Freedom from CLTI was not significantly different between HePTFE and VEIN groups (75% vs. 84%, adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.88, confidence interval [CI] 0.66-1.18, P = 0.401). Recurrence of CLTI was higher in the HePTFE group (42% vs.18% at 3 years; aHR 2.82, CI 1.59-5.00, P < 0.001). The VEIN group achieved higher rates of freedom from major amputation (87% vs.69% at 3 years; aHR 2.21, CI 1.31-3.75, P = 0.003) and AFS (59% vs. 37% at 3 years; aHR 1.39, CI 1.02-1.88, P = 0.036), but no significance in survival (aHR 1.10, CI 0.72-1.66, P = 0.667). Patency rates were inferior in the HePTFE group, with 2-year PP and SP rates of 52% vs. 74%, and 76% vs. 90%, respectively (PP: aHR 1.70, CI 1.11-2.59, P = 0.014; SP: aHR 2.51, CI 1.42-4.42, P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Infrapopliteal bypass with autologous vein graft is the gold standard to treat CLTI limbs. HePTFE graft should be regarded as an alternative for complex infrapopliteal revascularization when lacking an autologous vein conduct.