Remote Superficial Femoral Artery Endarterectomy and Distal Vein Bypass for Limb Salvage: Initial Experience

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2003

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the results of remote superficial femoral artery endarterectomy (RSFAE) performed through a small groin incision in conjunction with distal saphenous vein (SV) bypass for limb salvage.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 21 patients (14 men; mean age 68.5 years, range 47–78) who underwent RSFAE and distal SV bypass between May 1998 and September 2001 for limb salvage. Thirteen had gangrene and 8 had rest pain. RSFAE was performed with the MollRing Cutter device through a femoral arteriotomy; the distal atheromatous plaque was “tacked up” with a stent. Distal SV bypass from the proximal popliteal artery was performed in situ in 7, from a transposed harvested vein in 8, or from a reversed graft in 6. All patients underwent follow-up examination with serial color-flow ultrasound scans.

Results: The mean length of the endarterectomized SFA was 26.5 cm (range 12–40). There were no deaths, only 2 wound complications, and the mean hospital length of stay was 3.1±0.6 days. The primary cumulative patency rate by life-table analysis was 71.4% with follow-up extending to an average of 12.4 months (range 1–18). There were 2 amputations for gangrene and 6 percutaneous procedures in 4 (19.1%) patients to maintain bypass patency, producing an assisted primary patency rate of 81.5%. The locations of the restenoses were evenly distributed along the endarterectomized SFA and SV graft.

Conclusions: When adequate SV is not available, RSFAE with residual SV bypass is a safe and moderately durable procedure that may prove to be a useful adjunct for limb salvage, especially in the presence of foot infection, where an autogenous tissue bypass is preferred.

Comments

Presented at International Congress XV on Endovascular Interventions, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, February 10–14, 2002.

DOI

10.1583/1545-1550(2003)010<0121:RSFAEA>2.0.CO;2

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