title: Balloon dilatation versus surgical revision of infra-inguinal autogenous vein graft stenoses: long-term follow-up.
abstract: Although infra-inguinal autogenous vein graft stenoses may be treated by balloon dilatation (PTA) or surgical revision, the optimal approach is undefined. Over the last 7 years 24 PTA procedures were performed on 37 vein graft stenoses in 19 grafts. Graft stenoses were diagnosed from 2 to 72 (mean = 17.3) months after implantation. PTA was successfully completed in 23 (96%) of the 24 procedures including 18 (95%) of the primary, and 5 (100%) of the secondary procedures. Recurrent vein graft stenosis or graft thrombosis developed in 12 (67%) grafts from 3 to 47 (mean = 12.5) months after primary PTA. Long-term patency after primary PTA was 69% at 6, 29% at 12, and 22% at 36 months; secondary patency was 81% at 6, 45% at 12, and 27% at 36 months. During the same period vein graft stenosis in 7 fem-pop and 2 fem-tib grafts were surgically revised with an initial success rate of 100%, and 2 (22%) complications. Four (44%) of these grafts occluded from 1-17 (mean 6.2) months after repair, yielding a primary 5-year patency of 62%. Although vein graft stenosis may be safely, effectively, and repeatedly treated with PTA, long-term durability appears to be superior after surgical revision.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Perler
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Osterman
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Burdick
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency