The distaflo graft: a valid alternative to interposition vein?

Introduction: the rationale behind the Distaflo graft is inhibition of myointimal hyperplasia through optimisation of haemodynamic forces at the distal anastomosis. This prospective study reports our early clinical results. Method: patients with critical limb ischaemia, but no autologous vein, underwent infrainguinal bypass using Distaflo. Clinical and Duplex assessment provided prospective data from which one year cumulative patency, limb salvage and survival rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Log rank test enabled comparison with an historical control group of Miller cuff grafts. Results: fifty Distaflo were inserted over 29 months into 46 patients, median age 68.5 years, 27 male (59%), of which 27 (54%) were re-do procedures. Proximal anastomoses were to common femoral arteries in 40 cases (80%); distal anastomoses were to popliteal vessels in 20 (40%), and tibial vessels in 30 (60%). The Distaflo graft had patency, limb salvage and survival rates of 39, 50 and 82% respectively compared to 49, 56 and 85% respectively in the control group, with no statistical difference ( p = 0.39; 0.65; 0.67 respectively; log rank). Conclusion: in this non-randomised study, the Distaflo has similar one year patency, limb salvage and survival rates to the Miller cuff, potentially justifying its use an alternative in distal prosthetic arterial reconstruction for critical limb ischaemia. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 25, 235–239 (2003)