title: Meta-analysis of alternate autologous vein bypass grafts to infrapopliteal arteries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have described acceptable results for infrapopliteal bypass surgery that uses an autogenous vein other than the greater saphenous vein but is still no reliable prediction of outcomes. The objective of this study was to use meta-analysis to assess the long-term outcomes after infrapopliteal bypass grafting done with alternate autologous veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies published from 1982 through 2004 were identified from electronic databases and pertinent original articles. Thirty-two series were selected, all of which had used survival analysis and had reported a 1-year graft patency rate, with at least 15 bypasses. An interval success rate was calculated for each month in each series of grafts by using data from life tables, survival curves, and texts. Monthly success rates were combined across series to obtain a pooled estimate of success for each month. Pooled survival curves were then constructed for graft patency and foot preservation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year pooled estimates were 46.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 35.5%-58.3%) for primary patency, 66.5% (95% CI = 54.9%-78.2%) for secondary patency, and 76.4% (95% CI = 68.0%-84.8%) for foot preservation. These results were far superior to those reported for nonautologous grafts. Intensive duplex surveillance had a favorable impact on graft patency and foot preservation. No publication bias was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When the greater saphenous vein is unavailable, alternate autologous veins are preferable to other graft materials in bypass surgery to infrapopliteal arteries.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Section, Department of Surgery, Health and Medical Sciences Sector, Lusiada Foundation, Santos, SP, Brazil. albersm@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Maximiano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albers
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romiti
authors.forename: Francisco Cardoso
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Brochado-Neto
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto Bragança
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*