title: The deep femoral artery, a readily available inflow vessel for lower limb revascularization: a single-center experience.
abstract: The deep femoral artery (DFA) offers several advantages as an inflow vessel in lower-extremity bypasses. We report a single-center experience using the DFA as an inflow artery for lower-extremity revascularization. We reviewed all patients who underwent a lower-extremity bypass utilizing the DFA as the inflow vessel. Demographics, indications for surgery, indication for use of the DFA, type of conduits and target vessels were recorded. Follow-up data included resolution of symptoms, bypass graft patency, major amputations and survival. Over 2.5 years, 23 patients were treated with a DFA-inflow bypass. Eighteen (78%) suffered from wounds and five (22%) from rest pain. The proximal, middle and distal DFA was used in 8, 14 and 1 patients, respectively. Indications for using the DFA were limited vein conduit (16) and a hostile groin (5). All patients experienced initial resolution of their ischemic symptoms. The primary patency at two years was 93%. The survival rate was 83%. In conclusion, the DFA is an excellent and underutilized alternative inflow artery in patients requiring lower limb revascularization. It offers excellent patency rates and should be considered in patients with hostile groins or insufficient lengths of a vein conduit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Affiliated to the Tel Aviv University, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. Silverberg_d@msn.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silverberg
authors.forename: Basheer
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheick-Yousif
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yakubovitch
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halak
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneiderman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007557:Israel; D023821:Limb Salvage; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality