title: Distal wound complications following pedal bypass: analysis of risk factors.
abstract: Wound complications of the pedal incision continue to compromise successful limb salvage following aggressive revascularization. Significant distal wound disruption occurred in 14 of 142 (9.8%) patients undergoing pedal bypass with autogenous vein for limb salvage between 1986 and 1993. One hundred forty-two pedal bypass procedures were performed for rest pain in 66 patients and tissue necrosis in 76. Among the 86 men and 56 women, 76% were diabetic and 73% were black. All but eight patients had a history of diabetes and/or tobacco use. Eight wounds were successfully managed with maintenance of patent grafts from 5 to 57 months. Exposure of a patent graft precipitated amputation in three patients, as did graft occlusion in an additional patient. One graft was salvaged by revision to the peroneal artery and one was covered by a local bipedicled flap. Multiple regression analysis identified three factors associated with wound complications at the pedal incision site: diabetes mellitus (p = 0.03), age > 70 years (p = 0.03), and rest pain (p = 0.05). Ancillary techniques ("pie-crusting") to reduce skin tension resulted in no distal wound problems among 15 patients considered to be at greatest risk for wound breakdown. Attention to technique of distal graft tunneling, a wound closure that reduces tension, and control of swelling by avoiding dependency on and use of gentle elastic compression assume crucial importance in minimizing pedal wound complications following pedal bypass.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Brothers
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014654:Vascular Patency