Prophylactic use of the silver-acetate–coated graft in arterial occlusive disease: A retrospective, comparative study

Overall primary patency and limb salvage rates for the different indications (Kaplan-Meier). a, The patency rate for claudication is significantly better, while the curves for rest pain, tissue loss, and acute occlusion do not differ. b, In contrast, rest pain has a significantly better limb salvage rate compared to tissue loss and acute occlusion. Vertical dotted lines: 1 and 5 years.

Primary patency rates (Kaplan-Meier). a, Patency for the silver and nonsilver groups in patients with claudication (all operations). The control group seems superior. b, Subgroup analysis: patency rate for aorto-(bi-)femoral prostheses in claudicants, previous procedures on the vessel excluded. There is no difference between the groups. c, In femorodistal prosthesis implanted critical limb ischemia, the patency rates are similar. Statistic: log-rank test. Vertical dotted lines: 1 and 5 years.

Limb salvage rates for patients with limb at risk (Kaplan-Meier). a, Overall performance. Again, the results for the silver group were inferior to the nonsilver group. b, Subgroup analysis: aorto-(bi-)femoral prostheses; there is no difference between the groups. c, Femorocrural prostheses (without redo procedures) did not show a significant difference. Statistic: log-rank test. Dotted lines: 1 and 5 years.

Infection rates for different local conditions. a, Preceding procedure (angioplasty, thrombendarterectomy, or bypass in the groin). b, Existing bypass in the groin. c, Impaired wound healing. d, Revision for local complication. In all groups, silver did not prevent an infection when compared to the standard graft. Comparing the silver group with the control group in a-d, the differences were not statistically significant. Statistic: χ² test.