RT Journal
A1 Balshi JD, Cantelmo NL, Menzoian JO, LoGerfo FW
T1 THe use of arm veins for infrainguinal bypass in end-stage peripheral vascular disease
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 1989
FD September 1
VO 124
IS 9
SP 1078
OP 1081
DO 10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410090088019
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410090088019
AB • Thirty-six infrainguinal bypass grafts were performed in 33 patients with the use of autologous arm vein. Indications for operation were ischemic rest pain or tissue loss in all patients. The average age of the patients was 70.0 years—27% were diabetic and 66% were smokers. Sixty-five percent of the grafts were performed as secondary reconstructions. Followup ranged from three weeks to six years, with a mean of 12.1 months. Life-table primary and secondary patencies for all grafts are 73% and 82% at one year, respectively. Simple (noncomposite) arm vein grafts had primary and secondary patencies of 75% and 85%, respectively. The limb salvage rate was 86%. No grafts required thrombectomy for early occlusion (30 days), and no graft failures have occurred beyond nine months (n = 18). Arm vein bypass grafts demonstrate excellent patency rates and provide the preferred conduit in the absence of autologous saphenous vein.(Arch Surg 1989;124:1078-1081)