Early results with cryopreserved saphenous vein allografts for infrainguinal bypass.
OBJECTIVE
Cryopreserved saphenous vein allografts (CSVA) are available for use in arterial reconstructions; however, patency rates in the infrainguinal position are not well described.


METHODS
We reviewed our experience with 38 patients who underwent 43 infrainguinal bypasses with CSVA as the conduit. The group includes 21 women and 17 men with a mean age of 69 +/- 11 years. Mean follow-up is 8.2 +/- 5.5 months. Logistic regression was used to analyze five variables in an attempt to identify predictors of success or failure: distal anastomosis to the popliteal artery versus a crural artery, one-vessel versus two- or three-vessel runoff, postoperative anticoagulation versus none, primary reconstructions versus reoperations, and one segment versus two segments of CSVA required.


RESULTS
The cumulative patency rate at 12 months by life-table analysis is 66%. Logistic regression revealed that primary reconstructions were more likely to succeed than reoperations (p = 0.03) and operations completed with one segment of CSVA were more likely to succeed than those requiring more than one segment of vein (p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that (1) the short-term patency of infrainguinal bypasses with CSVA suggests that they may be acceptable alternatives to prosthetic grafts in the below-knee position, and (2) primary reconstructions performed with one segment of CSVA are more likely to succeed.
Shah
R M
RM
Department of Surgery, State University of New York at Buffalo.
Faggioli
G L
GL
Mangione
S
S
Harris
L M
LM
Kane
J
J
Taheri
S A
SA
Ricotta
J J
JJ
D000368:Aged; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006119:Groin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods