Prospective randomized study on reversed saphenous vein infrapopliteal bypass to treat limb-threatening ischemia: common femoral artery versus superficial femoral or popliteal and tibial arteries as inflow.
OBJECTIVE
Use of inflow sources distal to the common femoral artery (CFA) for bypass to infrapopliteal arteries is a compromise measure when the length of the vein is not adequate. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of vein infrapopliteal bypass arising from the CFA and from the distal superficial femoral or popliteal and tibial arteries in patients with limb-threatening ischemia.


METHODS
Over 13 years, 160 vein infrapopliteal vein bypass procedures (160 patients) were randomized into 2 groups, 80 with inflow arising from the CFA (group 1) and 80 with inflow from below the CFA (group 2). Patency and limb salvage rates were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier method. All patients underwent graft surveillance at discharge and at 30 days and 6 months after surgery, then every 6 months thereafter. Follow-up ranged from 30 days to 127 months (mean, 49 months).


RESULTS
Groups were similar with regard to age, sex, and most atherosclerotic risk factors. Gangrene as an indication for surgery was statistically more frequent in group 1 (73.7% vs 48.7%; P = .002), whereas nonhealing ulcer and rest pain were statistically more frequent in group 2 (respectively, 51.2% vs 25%; P = .001 and 46.2% vs 28.7%; P = .03). No patients died during the perioperative (30 days) period. At 1, 3, and 5 years patency and limb salvage rates were comparable between groups, tending toward significance for the 5-year primary patency rate (73% vs 57%; P = .08).


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of significant proximal disease, infrapopliteal revascularization arising distal to the CFA can ensure patency and limb salvage rates statistically similar to those with use of the CFA. Moreover, procedures arising distal to the CFA required fewer graft revisions to maintain patency of failing grafts.
Vascular Surgery Section, Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua School of Medicine, Italy. enzo.ballotta@unipd.it
Enzo
E
Ballotta
Laura
L
Renon
Aldo
A
De Rossi
Bruno
B
Barbon
Oreste
O
Terranova
Giuseppe
G
Da Giau
D000368:Aged; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D014654:Vascular Patency