Improved results with femoropopliteal vein grafts for limb salvage
F. W. LoGerfo, J. D. Corson and J. A. Mannick
Over a ten-year period from 1966 to 1975, 154 femoropopliteal vein grafts
were performed for limb salvage in 139 patients, including 42 diabetics.
The average patient age was 70 years. The one-month operative mortality was
2.9% (four patients). Average preoperative Doppler ankle pressure was 46 mm
Hg, with an average ankle-arm systolic blood pressure index (ASPI) of 0.33.
The average postoperative Doppler ankle pressure was 96 mm Hg, with an ASPI
of 0.76. Five-year vein graft patency was 72%. Poor quality of vein was a
statistically significant cause of graft failure (P less than .015). Small
saphenous veins of good quality and arm veins gave satisfactory results.
Diabetics had a lower, but not statistically significantly decreased,
five-year patency. Because of this high success rate and low operative
mortality, we recommend an attempt at limb salvage by femoropopliteal vein
grafting in patients threatened with limb loss because of atherosclerotic
occlusive disease of the femoropopliteal segment.
