title: Recanalization of the native artery in patients with bypass failure.
abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the possible role of endovascular recanalization of occluded native artery after a failed bypass graft in the case of either acute or chronic limb-threatening ischemia otherwise leading to amputation. In a single-center retrospective clinical analysis, from January 2004 to March 2007 we collected 31 consecutive high-surgical-risk patients (32 limbs) with critical limb ischemia following late ([30 days after surgery) failure of open surgery bypass graft reconstruction. All patients deemed unfit for surgery underwent tentative endovascular recanalization of the native occluded arterial tract. The mean follow-up period was 24 (range, 6-42) months. Technical success was achieved in 30 (93.7%) of 32 limbs. The cumulative primary assisted patency calculated by Kaplan-Meyer analysis was 92% and 88%, respectively, at 12 and 24 months. The limb salvage rate approached 90% at 30 months. In conclusion, our experience shows the feasibility of occluded native artery endovascular recanalization after a failed bypass graft, with optimal results in terms of midterm arterial patency and limb salvage. Our opinion is that successful recanalization of the arterial tract previously considered unsuitable for endovascular approach is allowed by improved competency and experience of vascular specialists, as well as the advances made in catheter and guidewire technology. This group of patients would previously have been relegated to repeat bypass grafts, with their inherently inferior patency and recognized added technical demands. We recognize previous surgical native artery disconnection and lack of pedal runoff to be the main cause of technical failure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Interventional Radiology, Molecolar Imaging and Radiotherapy, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford 81, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gandini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiappa
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Primio
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Vito
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boi
authors.forename: Erdembileg
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsevegmid
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014654:Vascular Patency