title: Clinical results of biologic prosthesis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biologic prosthesis (BP) has been reported as a safe alternative to polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in vascular reconstruction. However, efficacy of BP remains controversial. We, therefore, conducted a systematic review to summarize previous available evidences comparing the BP and PTFE in terms of clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search of the MEDLINE and Scopus was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes of BP, PTFE, and/or autologous veins graft (VG) in vascular access for hemodialysis or femoropopliteal bypass. The outcome of interest was graft patency. Two reviewers independently extracted data. Meta-analysis with a random-effect model was applied to pool a risk ratio (RR) across studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 584 articles identified, 11 studies (4 randomized controlled trials (RCT) and 7 cohorts) comprising 2627 patients were eligible for pooling. Seven studies compared BP with PTFE and 3 studies compared PTFE with VG. Among BP vs PTFE, pooling based on 3 RCTs yielded the pooled RR of 1.54 (95% CI: 1.10, 2.16), indicating 54% higher graft patency in VG than PTFE. Adding the 7 cohorts in this pooling yield similar results with the pooled RR of 1.29 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.45). The pooled RR of graft patency for BP vs VG was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.55, 1.00), indicating 26% lower graft patency in BP than VG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our first meta-analysis indicated that the biosynthetic prosthesis might be benefit over PTFE by increasing graft patency. An updated meta-analysis or a large scale randomized control trial is required to confirm this benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Section for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chumpon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilasrusmee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University Hospital, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
authors.forename: Boonying
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siribumrungwong
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suthas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horsirimanont
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Napaphat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poprom
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jakrapan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jirasiritham
authors.affiliation: Section for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ammarin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thakkinstian
keywords: Graft survival; Omniflow graft; Patency; Vascular access