Femorofemoral bypass with femoral popliteal vein.
BACKGROUND
The femoropopliteal vein (FPV) has been used successfully for vascular reconstructions at multiple sites. To date, there have been no studies documenting patency of the FPV graft in the femorofemoral position. Our goal was to assess long-term patency of the FPV graft used for femorofemoral bypass (FFBP).


METHODS
Patients undergoing FFBP over a 10-year period were studied. Those in whom the FPV was used as a conduit were analyzed for runoff resistance score to assess how patients with poor runoff fared. Poor runoff was defined as a runoff resistance score of > or =7 (1 = normal runoff, 10 = total occlusion of all runoff vessels).


RESULTS
Fifty-four patients underwent FPV FFBP as a sole procedure (n = 16, 30%) or as a portion of an aortofemoral reconstruction with a FFBP component (n = 38, 70%). Mean (+/- SD) follow-up was 47 +/- 33 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year primary patencies were 97%, 93%, and 76%. The 5-year assisted primary and secondary patency rates were 85% and 90%. Among 27 patients with poor runoff (runoff resistance score of > or =7), the cumulative 40 month patency rate was 90%. Among patients in whom FPV FFBP was performed as a primary procedure (no aortofemoral component), there were no graft failures.


CONCLUSIONS
FFBP performed with FPV has excellent 1-, 3, and 5-year patency rates. FPV has sustained patency for FFBP in patients with poor runoff.
D'Addio
Victor
V
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, 75390, USA.
Ali
Ahsan
A
Timaran
Carlos
C
Siragusa
Tif
T
Valentine
James
J
Arko
Frank
F
Modrall
J Gregory
JG
Clagett
G Patrick
GP
D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000637:transplantation*; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*