Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

AIMS: This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of femoro-femoral arterial bypass (FFB) operation at hospital discharge and 1 year after operation, and to determine the role of long saphenous vein (LSV) as a conduit. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective review was undertaken of 161 consecutive patients (median age, 66 years; range, 44-97 years) who had femoro-femoral grafts during the 12 years from July 1987 to March 1999. The indication for operation was claudication in 66 patients and critical ischaemia in 95. A synthetic graft was used in 123 patients and LSV in 38. Six patients with LSV had a previously infected synthetic graft and 2 a previously occluded synthetic graft. In-hospital operative mortality was 13 (8.1%). One year postoperatively, known mortality was 29, fifteen patients were lost to follow-up putting 1-year mortality at 18.0-27.3%. Eight of these had LSV as the conduit. At discharge from hospital, the median improvement in the ankle brachial pressure index was 0.3 (range, 0-1.0) overall, and 0.32 for patients with LSV (range 0-1.0). Among the 117 known survivors at 1 year, secondary graft patency was 107 confirmed by Doppler or duplex (91.5%) overall, and 25 (89.3%) for LSV; 100 (85.5%) maintained symptomatic improvement, 11 (9.4%) were experiencing no benefit and 6 (5.1%) were worse, of whom 2 had undergone amputation. In patients in whom LSV was used, 22 (78.8%) remained symptomatically improved, 3 (10.7%) experienced no benefit, 3 deteriorated and one had an amputation. CONCLUSIONS: One year following FFB, at least 18.0% of patients were dead. Among possible survivors to 1-year, graft patency was at least 78.8% and at least 75.8% remained clinically improved. FFB is effective in the treatment of unilateral iliac artery occlusion. LSV is as effective as a synthetic conduit.

Original publication

DOI

10.1308/003588403321219830

Type

Journal article

Journal

Ann R Coll Surg Engl

Publication Date

03/2003

Volume

85

Pages

88 - 90

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Arterial Occlusive Diseases, Blood Vessel Prosthesis, Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation, Female, Femoral Artery, Follow-Up Studies, Graft Survival, Humans, Iliac Artery, Intermittent Claudication, Ischemia, Leg, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Treatment Outcome, Ultrasonography, Doppler, Vascular Patency