title: Results of vascular reconstructions for atherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate early and long-term results of vascular reconstructions for arterial atherosclerotic occlusive disease (AOD) of the lower limb in young patients under the age of 40 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine young adults, who underwent vascular reconstruction for histologically proven AOD of the aortoiliac and/or femoropopliteal segments in a 15-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Early and late mortality, failure of vascular reconstructions, additional procedures, other manifestations of atherosclerosis, recurrence of symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (31%) died, seven related to atherosclerotic disease. In 21 patients (72%) initial vascular reconstruction(s) failed. Twenty-two patients (76%) underwent surgery for failures and/or progression of AOD in other segments of the lower limb. Amputation was performed in five patients (17%). At the end of the follow-up period only 25% of surviving patients were asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young patients undergoing vascular reconstructions for AOD of the lower limbs, in particular those who initially have extensive and progressive atherosclerosis, have a poor outcome in terms of a high mortality and a high operative failure rate. A liberal attitude towards reconstructive surgery, particularly in claudication, is not warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Goor
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Boontje
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure