Preservation for future use of the autologous saphenous vein during femoro-popliteal bypass surgery is inexpedient.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the usefulness of greater saphenous vein preservation for future vascular reconstructions during femoro-popliteal bypass surgery.


METHODS
Post-hoc analysis of data acquired in a randomized multi-centre clinical trial comparing two different vascular prostheses (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT 00523263).


METHODS
The true frequency of ipsilateral saphenous vein use in subsequent femoro-popliteal and coronary bypass surgery was investigated through case-record analysis with a median follow-up of 60 months in 100 consecutive patients, that received a prosthetic femoro-popliteal bypass between 1996 and 2001.


RESULTS
An ipsilateral secondary femoro-popliteal bypass was performed in 11 patients (11%) at a mean interval of 34 months (range 1-96). The ipsilateral saphenous vein was applied for these procedures in 8 cases (8%). The cumulative probability of receiving a subsequent bypass was 8% at 3 years and 10% at 5 years follow-up respectively. One patient (1%) underwent CABG at 8 years follow-up with the use of ipsilateral lower leg saphenous vein segments only.


CONCLUSIONS
Preservation of the greater saphenous vein in supragenicular femoro-popliteal bypass surgery is not a valid argument for application of prosthetic material.
Dirven
M
M
Department of Vascular Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Scharn
D M
DM
Blankensteijn
J D
JD
van der Vliet
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation*