Cryopreserved Allograft Use in Vascular Surgery

In vascular surgery, bypass procedures are standard treatments for many arterial and venous diseases. The choice of conduit for the bypass operation is fundamental in planning for the appropriate intervention for each individual patient. Although an autogenous conduit is superior, this option is not available in many patients, and prosthetic grafts have been the preferred conduit in a variety of clinical situations. However, since prosthetic graft infections are seen in all realms of vascular surgery, from arteriovenous access to aortic graft infections and lower-extremity bypass infections, cryopreserved arterial and venous allografts, which are relatively resistant to infection, have become the conduit of choice. This discussion will focus on the clinical applications of cryopreserved allografts in vascular surgery, specifically lower-extremity peripheral bypass, aortic disease, and dialysis access.