New concepts in the use of axillofemoral bypass grafts.
Over a four-year period, 52 patients underwent axillofemoral bypass operations. Indications for operation were divided into three groups: those that were performed emergently (aortoenteric fistula, graft infection, and leaking aortic aneurysm), those performed electively for aneurysm, and those for ischemia. Operative procedures were categorized as follows: axillofemoral bypass alone, axillofemorofemoral bypass with the proximal femorofemoral anastomosis being graft to graft, or axillofemorofemoral bypass with the femorofemoral anastomosis to either a transected proximal common femoral artery or superficial femoral artery distal to the axillofemoral anastomosis. Thirty-three percent of the unilateral axillofemoral grafts failed, while only 14% of the axillobifemoral grafts failed. There was a further difference between the two methods of femorofemoral grafting with 22% failure in the former group but no failures in the latter.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000601:surgery; D001366:Axillary Artery / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged