Is balloon angioplasty of peri-anastomotic stenoses of failing peripheral arterial bypasses worthwhile?
BACKGROUND
Surgical revision of failing peripheral arterial bypass grafts has generally been shown to provide superior patency rates compared to balloon angioplasty. We analyzed whether balloon angioplasty, specifically of peri-anastomotic stenoses (PAS), provided acceptable patency rates, because surgery for these lesions is more difficult and is likely associated with higher complication rates compared to surgical revision of stenoses in the body of a graft.


METHODS
This is a retrospective review of PAS balloon angioplasties performed at a single institution between January 1, 1999, and September 1, 2005. We report ''primary site patency'' as a stenosis treated by balloon angioplasty, ''revised primary site patency'' as a stenosis treated by repeat balloon angioplasty, and ''secondary site patency'' as an angioplastied stenosis treated surgically or when the graft thrombosed and was revised surgically. All procedures were performed in an endovascular operating room based on duplex scan findings suggesting a significant stenosis.


RESULTS
48 PAS in 33 autologous vein and 15 prosthetic grafts were treated by balloon angioplasty in 42 patients. Mean follow-up was 12 months (range, 1-49 months). Interventions were performed on 22 femoropopliteal grafts (11 proximal, 11 distal), 20 femorotibial grafts (5 proximal, 15 distal), 2 axillofemoral grafts (2 proximal anastomoses), 2 popliteal-pedal grafts (1 proximal, 1 distal), and 1 common iliac-femoral graft (proximal). Life-table analysis revealed 2-year primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates of 38%, 58%, and 84%, respectively. No major complications occurred with any endovascular intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Balloon angioplasty of PAS resulted in acceptable 2-year assisted primary patency rate of almost 60%. Endovascular intervention avoided repeat incisions in scarred groins, higher rates of nerve injury and infection, significant blood loss, and longer length of hospital stays. We recommend that balloon angioplasty of PAS be attempted before resorting to surgical intervention, especially in cases of hostile anastomotic wounds.
Eisenberg
Joshua A
JA
Section of Vascular Surgery, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, USA.
Calligaro
Keith D
KD
Kolakowski
Steven
S
Doerr
Kevin J
KJ
Bennett
Sandy
S
Murtha
Kathy
K
Dougherty
Matthew J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012042:Registries; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D017211:Treatment Failure; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*