title: Quality of life and the venous function of the lower limb after harvest of autologous external iliac vein grafts: a clinical follow-up study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the quality of life and venous function of the lower limbs after right external iliac vein (REIV) grafting for digestive surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects included 66 patients treated surgically for hepatopancreatobiliary malignancy who underwent concomitant resection with REIV for use as autologous grafts. Fifteen patients completed the Chronic Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ), and the venous function was assessed using air plethysmography (APG) and duplex ultrasound in 10 patients. The outcomes of the 15 patients were analyzed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative morbidity related to graft harvest occurred in three of the 66 patients (5 %). The right legs of the follow-up patients were 6 ± 3 % larger than the left legs. The mean CIVIQ score was acceptably low at 27; however, moderate symptoms (e.g., pain upon long-time standing or walking) occurred in seven of the 15 patients. APG revealed moderate to severe outflow obstructions that did not improve during long-term observation. The blood flow depicted on duplex ultrasonography was significantly associated with the patients' symptoms. No deep venous reflux was encountered, and no right leg skin changes or venous claudication developed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The symptoms occurring after REIV resection can be unexpectedly prolonged. These unfavorable effects must be kept in mind and the possible sequelae should be carefully explained to patients preoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, 4-86 Minaminokawa, Ogaki, 503-8502, Japan, y-kaneoka@omh.ogaki.gifu.jp.
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kaneoka
authors.forename: Atsuyuki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isogai
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010991:Plethysmography; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*