title: Popliteal-to-distal bypass grafts for limb salvage in diabetics.
abstract: Between January 1984 and August 1989, 117 diabetic patients with a palpable popliteal pulse but distal limb threatening ischaemia underwent 124 popliteal artery (or below) to distal bypass grafts. All grafts were intra-operatively monitored. The operative mortality was 0.8% and the 30 day primary patency 93%. Primary patencies at 1 and 3 years were 88.6 and 85.2%, respectively. The results of using the popliteal artery as the proximal graft inflow site in diabetes are comparable to other patient groups and to alternative more proximal inflow sites, but require a shorter length of vein graft with a shorter vein harvesting incision, avoid groin disection and result in a more peripheral operation.
authors.affiliation: Harvard-Deaconess Surgical Services, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Stonebridge
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Tsoukas
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Pomposelli
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Gibbons
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: LoGerfo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014654:Vascular Patency