title: Tibial bypass using complex autologous conduit: patency and limb salvage.
abstract: Over an 8-year period, we performed 93 lower extremity bypasses using complex autologous conduits, which included (1) contralateral greater saphenous vein (GSV), (2) composite GSV, (3) superficial femoral vein, (4) lesser saphenous vein, (5) cephalic or basilic veins, and (6) composite-sequential (PTFE and vein) grafts. These grafts represented 16% of all infrainguinal bypasses during this period, and all grafts were performed to treat limb-threatening ischemia. Survival, patency, and limb salvage were examined by the life-table method. Primary graft patency was 46 and 38% at 3 and 5 years. Assisted-primary patency was 62 and 59%, and secondary graft patency rates were 68 and 64% at 3 and 5 years. Twenty-nine bypasses (31%) required revision to restore or maintain patency. The 3-year limb salvage rate was significantly better when revision was performed for graft stenosis than for graft thrombosis (90% vs. 46%, p < 0.05). Overall limb salvage rate was 73% at 5 years. The mortality rate was 5.4% and the 5-year survival was 51%. Complex autologous tibial bypasses provided acceptable long-term limb salvage in patients with severe ischemia and inadequate ipsilateral GSV. The increased operating time and complexity required did not produce prohibitive operative risks. Postoperative graft surveillance in these complex vein bypasses allowed revision in many cases before graft occlusion occurred and significantly improved long-term limb salvage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Halloran
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lilly
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cohn
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Flinn
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures