A metropolitan experience with infrainguinal revascularization

Abstract

Despite being of fundamental importance, the late results of major arterial reconstruction rarely have been documented throughout a large metropolitan area. In this study of 932 patients entered into the computer registry of the Cleveland Vascular Society, 19 surgeons representing 13 community hospitals and referral centers in Cleveland and Akron report the intermediate-term outcome during a mean interval of 35 months after infrainguinal lower extremity revascularization performed in northeastern Ohio from 1978 through 1982. Operative risk (5%), the early amputation rate (7%), and actuarial 5-year survival (48% to 55%) for patients with rest pain or tissue necrosis were significantly worse (p less than 0.05) than comparable figures (0.6%, 0%, and 77%, respectively) for others who underwent procedures for disabling claudication. Although both materials had similar success above the knee, the cumulative 3-year patency rate of autogenous vein bypass to the distal popliteal (69% to 88%; p less than 0.05) and tibioperoneal arteries (43%; 0.05 less than p less than 0.1) was superior to the results of polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (32% to 50% and 19%, respectively). Moreover, polytetrafluoroethylene grafts required reoperations at three times the rate of vein grafts to maintain limb salvage.

A comparative evaluation of polytetrafluoroethylene, umbilical vein, and saphenous vein bypass grafts for femoral-popliteal above-knee revascularization: A prospective randomized Department of Veterans Affairs cooperative study

“…2 The 5-year primary patency rate for fem-pop AK bypass grafts with vein conduits ranges from 59% to 77%. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] In 1976, Campbell et al 10 reported the first North American experience with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts; six were fem-pop AK, and all remained patent (1 to 7 months of observation). Several reports suggest a long-term PTFE primary patency rate range of 42% to 63%.…”