Results of 100 Consecutive Femoropopliteal Vein Grafts for Limb Salvage

Abstract

One hundred consecutive patients with femoropopliteal autogenous vein grafts for limb salvage were reviewed five years later. In this group 40% died and 30% of the limbs had been lost at the end of five years. Limb survival correlated best with adequacy of distal run-off, but not with the presence or absence of diabetes. Forty-seven per cent of the grafts were still patent among surviving patients, and when combined with the limbs that were viable despite failure of the original graft, 70% of the limbs were salvaged among the survivors at five years. Temporary graft patency was effective in preserving ischemic tissue by facilitating healing of ulcers or limited amputations. Femoral-popliteal bypass grafting in the presence of advanced ischemia is capable of improving the quality of life for many of these patients.

Superficial femoral—popliteal veins and reversed saphenous veins as primary femoropopliteal bypass grafts: A randomized comparative study

“…Better results with claudicants than critical ischemia patients have been well documented. 17,18 Conversely, results with both grafts were augmented by limitation of the study group to primary cases, x9…”

The Below-Knee Amputation: To Amputate or Palliate?

“…8 This finding is in contrast to multiple studies that have found the opposite to be true, that previous lower extremity bypass attempts lead to poorer outcomes following subsequent BKA. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Keagy et al reported an 83% BKA healing rate among patients without an ipsilateral vascular bypass and a 73% BKA healing rate among patients with an ipsilateral vascular bypass ( p < 0.001). 20 It is not surprising that these data are conflicting given the confounding variables that are difficult to account for.…”