Combined distal venous arterialization and free flap for patients with extensive tissue loss.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the mid-term outcome of distal venous arterialization (DVA) and the role of a combined free flap as a bridgehead for blood supply.


METHODS
In the past 5 years, nine patients with extensive tissue loss and lacking graftable distal arteries underwent DVA. These consisted of four primary DVAs, three combined DVA and free flap procedures, and two adjuvant DVAs for hemodynamically failed distal bypasses. After nine primary DVAs, three redo DVAs were performed for early failure. Etiologies were four Buerger disease and five arteriosclerosis obliterans, including three dialysis patients.


RESULTS
Among the nine DVA cases, there were five primary failures: two underwent amputation, two had successful redo DVA, and the remaining one did not require redo DVA. Primary patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage rates were 44.4%, 55.6%, and 77.8%, respectively. The postoperative period was 1-36 months (median 12). Angiography demonstrated DVA was effective in the early period, and development of collaterals or a capillary network from the free flap replaced the DVA function in the intermediate period.


CONCLUSIONS
DVA can be effective as a procedure for limb salvage in patients without graftable distal arteries, and a combined free flap is effective and functions as a bridgehead for blood supply to the ischemic zone.
Sasajima
Tadahiro
T
Department of Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan. sasajima@asahikawa-med.ac.jp
Azuma
Nobuyoshi
N
Uchida
Hisashi
H
Asada
Hidenori
H
Inaba
Masashi
M
Akasaka
Nobuyuki
N
D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D001162:Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D023821:Limb Salvage; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation