title: [Long-term results of aorto-bifemoral prostheses in the surgery for atheromatous stenosis of the aortic bifurcation].
abstract: Seven hundred patients operated consecutively by the same surgical team for atheromatous stenosis of the aortic bifurcation were followed up for 20 years with only 5 patients lost to follow-up. There were 94.5% of men with a mean age of 58 years. The operative mortality was 2.7% with few deaths due to true cardiovascular causes (0.7% of patients). The secondary mortality was very high with two main causes: cancer (39% of patients) and cardiovascular diseases (37%). Other causes were responsible for only 24% of deaths. The principal complications of the prostheses were: infection (0.6% of operated patients), thrombosis (6.7%), pseudo-aneurysm of the aorta (1.57%) and pseudo-aneurysm of Scarpa's triangle (4%). The benefits of surgery are unquestionable both on terms of survival, as amputation, bed confinement and invalidity are avoided, and in terms of function, as amputation was avoided in 84% of the 32% of patients in Stages III or IV before surgery. Only 5% of patients were amputed during the observation period. Moreover, 79% of survivors had a good functional result at 15 years. Improvement of results depends on better hygienic measures, systematic screening for high risk cancers and a better management of the arterial disease with early treatment of other arterial diseases (coronary, carotid) in order to reduce postoperative and mostly medium- and long-term cardiovascular mortality.
authors.affiliation: Clinique Saint-Gatien, Tours.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cron
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cron
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blanchard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bruère
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maudière
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cron
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000209:etiology; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005268:Femoral Vein; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality