title: Popliteal-to-distal artery bypass for diabetic limb salvage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Poor long-term survival and significant co-morbidity among diabetic patients with limb ischaemia makes the shortest, simplest revascularisation procedure desirable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate limb salvage, primary graft patency and peri-operative morbidity rates in diabetic patients undergoing popliteal-to-distal artery bypass for limb salvage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing popliteal-to-distal artery bypass for critical limb ischaemia over a seven-year period were retrospectively identified. Patients operative and follow-up data were entered into a database and limb salvage and patient survival determined using Kaplan Meier survival analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period 21 popliteal-to-distal artery bypasses were performed on 19 diabetic patients. Mortality rate after one year was 11%. Primary graft patency rates among surviving patients was 81%, 67% and 48% at 1, 2 and 6 years respectively. Amputation was required in three patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Popliteal-to-distal artery bypass produces favourable results in high-risk diabetic patients with critical limb ischaemia.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Vascular Surgery, MidWestern Regional Hospital, Limerick.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Brannigan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tubassum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clarke Moloney
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Burke
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014654:Vascular Patency