title: Arterial reconstruction to the foot arteries--a viable option?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the outcome of arterial reconstruction to the foot arteries for chronic critical leg ischaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regional hospital and academic referral centre in Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  99 patients who underwent 109 reconstructions to the foot arteries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patency, leg salvage and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Autogenous vein was used for the reconstruction in 91%. Two year patency of femoropedal and popliteopedal vein bypasses were 60% and 72% with similar rates of leg salvage. Prosthetic bypass had a low patency rate (20% at 2 years). Age, sex, diabetes and the condition of the outflow artery did not influence outcome. Survival of patients at 1, 2 and 3 years was 80%, 69% and 54%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reconstructions to the foot arteries are demanding and have high immediate failure rates. If autogenous vein is used acceptable patency and leg salvage rates can be achieved. In old patients this may be enough to preserve mobility for the rest of their lives.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Department, Vasa Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepäntalo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate