Infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with autologous vein grafts: are the results for the in situ technique better than those of non-reversed bypass? A long-term follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to answer the question if the in situ technique in infrainguinal arterial reconstruction is better than the non reversed one in long-term follow-up.


METHODS
Patients were included in a prospective study at operation. 387 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions in 367 patients performed from 10-88 to 12-98 were retrospectively analysed.


RESULTS
280 non-reversed and 107 in situ bypass procedures were performed. Primary patency rates at 60 months were 63.3% for non-reversed and 57.9% for in situ grafts (p=n.s.). Primary assisted patency rates were 81.8% and 84.5% respectively (p=n.s.). Limb salvage rate was not different in either group. The 30-day mortality was 1.9% in the in situ group and 0.7% in the non-reversed group (p=n.s.).


CONCLUSIONS
There is no difference in outcome between in situ and non-reversed vein grafting. Absence of statistical difference between the two procedures may be mainly due to the routine use of angioscopic quality control.
Eugster
T
T
Division of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Aarau/Basle, Switzerland. eugster.thomas@ksa.ch
Stierli
P
P
Aeberhard
P
P
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000601:surgery*; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*