title: Limits of infrapopliteal bypass surgery for critical leg ischemia: when not to reconstruct.
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors affecting the immediate 30-day postoperative outcome of infrapopliteal bypass grafts. A series of 511 revascularization procedures to the infrapopliteal arteries have been performed in 439 patients with critical leg ischemia. There were 306 crural bypasses and 205 pedal bypasses. The 30-day postoperative primary and secondary patency rates were 77.5% and 83.4%, respectively; the leg salvage rate was 89.8%; the survival rate was 94.7%; and 85.1% of patients were alive with a salvaged leg. A history of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or stroke had a great impact on the postoperative cardiac and cerebrovascular fatal and nonfatal complications. C-reactive protein arose as an important predictor of the length of hospital stay (p = 0.03), postoperative cardiac complications (p = 0.02), leg salvage (p = 0.009), amputation with patent graft (p = 0.009), and patients who survived with a salvaged leg (p = 0.006). Poor results were achieved in patients on long-term dialysis. Surgical experience had an influence on leg salvage (p = 0.02) and on patients alive with salvaged leg rates (p = 0.009). Infrapopliteal bypass surgery is a demanding procedure requiring high surgical skill and experience. Revascularization may be contraindicated when severe coronary disease, previous stroke, renal failure requiring long-term dialysis, diabetes, or high serum concentration of C-reactive protein coexist with critical leg ischemia, as these patients are at high risk for early postoperative leg or life loss.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, PO Box 340, 00029 HYKS, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biancari
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kantonen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albäck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mätzke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepäntalo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein