title: Results of 100 consecutive femoropopliteal vein grafts for limb salvage.
abstract: One hundred consecutive patients with femoropopliteal autogenous vein grafts for limb salvage were reviewed five years later. In this group 40% died and 30% of the limbs had been lost at the end of five years. Limb survival correlated best with adequacy of distal run-off, but not with the presence or absence of diabetes. Forty-seven per cent of the grafts were still patent among surviving patients, and when combined with the limbs that were viable despite failure of the original graft, 70% of the limbs were salvaged among the survivors at five years. Temporary graft patency was effective in preserving ischemic tissue by facilitating healing of ulcers or limited amputations. Femoral-popliteal bypass grafting in the presence of advanced ischemia is capable of improving the quality of life for many of these patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*