Follow-up of infrainguinal graft thrombolysis: analysis of predictors of clinical success.
OBJECTIVE
Thrombolysis is an accepted technique to salvage a failed infrainguinal bypass graft. Careful case selection, including consideration of the native arterial runoff and the type and location of the graft, will portend a better clinical outcome and prolonged graft patency.


METHODS
Retrospective study of an inception cohort of 91 acutely thrombosed grafts.


METHODS
Academic tertiary care center.


METHODS
We analyzed 91 consecutive occluded grafts in 69 patients for secondary graft patency and clinical outcome.


METHODS
Regional transcatheter thrombolysis.


METHODS
Technical success, secondary graft patency, and the need for major limb amputation.


RESULTS
Immediate technical success resulting in restoration of flow was achieved in 80 (88%) of 91 cases. Angioplasty or additional surgical intervention (eg, patch, interposition graft, or jump graft to a more distal site) was performed in 44 subjects (64%). Longer duration of secondary patency was associated with synthetic vs vein grafts (P =.03), popliteal vs distal (tibial/pedal) insertion of the anastomosis (P =.008), and intact native arterial outflow (P =.003). Twenty-three cases required major limb amputation in the follow-up period, but 17 (74%) of these had reocclusion within 30 days of thrombolysis. Only 43 grafts (47%) were found to be patent at 1-year follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
In carefully selected cases, thrombolytic therapy is an effective means to restore limb viability in patients with occluded infrainguinal grafts. Long-term patency rates, although similar to those of surgical series, remain poor.
Zuckerman
Darryl A
DA
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo, USA. ZuckerDA@healthall.com
Alderman
Mary G
MG
Idso
Mary C
MC
Pilgram
Thomas K
TK
Sicard
Gregorio A
GA
D000368:Aged; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014654:Vascular Patency
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator