Distal tibial vein grafts for limb salvage

Angiographic distribution of lower extremity atherosclerosis in patients with and without diabetes

AIMS

To determine differences in the anatomic site of atherosclerosis in the lower extremity between patients with and patients without diabetes.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study of patients who underwent angiography of both legs because of symptoms of intermittent claudication, rest and/or night pain, ulceration or gangrene.

METHODS

The angiographies of 37 patients with diabetes and 37 patients without diabetes, matched for age, sex and smoking behaviour, were evaluated using the Bollinger scoring system.

RESULTS

The mean (sd) Bollinger score in the upper leg (from the abdominal aorta to and including the superficial femoral artery) was higher (P = 0.01) for patients without diabetes (35.3 (22.8)) than for patients with diabetes (23.3 (16.1)). In the lower leg (from the popliteal artery to the posterior tibial artery) patients with diabetes tended to have a higher score than patients without diabetes: 47.4 (34.2) and 37.6 (32.9), respectively (P = 0.22).

CONCLUSION

This angiographic study confirms the clinical notion that lower limb atherosclerosis in diabetes is more severe in distal segments of the lower extremity, while the proximal segments remain less attenuated compared with patients without diabetes.

Comparison of peripheral arterial reconstruction in diabetic and non-diabetic patients: a prospective clinic-based study

To assess the efficacy and safety of lower extremity arterial reconstruction in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects during a 3-year period. A prospective clinic-based study between 1994-1999 in Area 7, Madrid, with a population of 569307 and an estimated diabetic population of 37932 (15505 men and 22427 women). The level of arterial reconstruction and associated risk factors were ascertained.

RESULTS

A total of 588 peripheral revascularization surgical procedures were performed in 481 patients. The diabetic patients (n=174, 36.2%) underwent 222 surgical procedures (including 48 follow-on operations, 21.6%), and 307 non-diabetic subjects underwent 366 surgical procedures (59 follow-on operations, 16.1%). The numbers of surgical procedures per 100000 people at risk and year were 18.8 and 1.8 for non-diabetic men and women, respectively, and 145.1 and 29.0 for men and women with diabetes mellitus (7.7- and 16.2-fold, respectively). Age at reconstruction surgery was 2 and 5 years earlier in non-diabetic than in diabetic men and women, respectively. Diabetic patients had a higher neuropathy score (P<0.05) and were less frequently smokers (P<0.05) than non-diabetic subjects. Diabetic subjects more frequently had distal reconstruction while proximal arterial reconstruction was more often performed in non-diabetic subjects. Between 64.6 and 80.4% of people with diabetes and 82.3 and 88.9% of non-diabetic subjects had no complications during their in-hospital stay. Distal amputation simultaneous to arterial reconstruction was the most frequent morbidity of people with diabetes during the study (P<0.05). Despite a graft occlusion rate after femoropopliteal revascularization significantly higher than in non-diabetic people (P<0.05), diabetic people more often required lower extremity amputations (LEAs) for the same level of bypass (P<0.01). Cumulative limb salvage rates were lower in diabetic patients than in non-diabetic subjects at femoropopliteal (49.2 vs. 89.7%; P<0.001), femorodistal (73.5 vs. 95.2%; P<0.01), and distal reverse (77.9 vs. 87.3%; P<0.05) arterial reconstruction, at the end of the third year, but similar after aorto-iliac reconstruction (93.1 vs. 97.5%). A higher neuropathy score and the presence of foot ulcers were associated to significantly lower limb salvage in diabetic patients (P<0.05), but not in non-diabetic people. Survival rates after 3 years were similar between diabetic and non-diabetic populations after aorto-iliac (93.1 vs. 97.5%), femoropopliteal (97.2 vs. 90.3%), and distal reverse (93.2 vs. 98.1%) revascularization, and slightly lower in diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients after femorodistal revascularization (82.1 vs. 96.3%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Although limb salvage after arterial reconstruction is lower in diabetic than in non-diabetic subjects, particularly in those with a higher neuropathy score, this surgical approach can be applied in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with otherwise similar outcome.

Cost-efficacy issues in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease: primary amputation or revascularization for limb-threatening ischemia

Controlling rising health care costs represents a major challenge to our society. Due to the aging of the population and the increasing number of patients with vascular disease, vascular specialists will be under mounting pressure by the managed care industry to provide the most cost-effective care for these patients. One particular controversy is whether to attempt revascularization in the patient with limb-threatening ischemia or to proceed directly with primary amputation. Although it has been assumed that the operative risk for revascularization procedures is high in elderly patients with a severely ischemic limb, mortality rates in the sickest patients are actually higher for amputation. It is also incorrect to assume that the duration of hospitalization is shorter for patients undergoing amputation than for patients undergoing revascularization. For both types of procedures, it is complications that prolong the length of hospital stay, and the rate of secondary amputation following a revascularization attempt is low (8.5%), compared with the rate of operative revision in patients following primary below-knee amputation (23%). The costs for revascularization and primary amputation are similar when the costs of a prosthesis and rehabilitative therapy are included in the calculations for amputation. The rationale for primary amputation assumes that patients will ambulate successfully with a prosthesis; however, many do not, and thus costs for institutionalization must be included in the equation. Long-term costs following revascularization were $28,374 in patients with a viable limb, compared with $56,809 in those undergoing secondary revascularization. The key to minimizing health care costs in this population is careful patient selection for initial revascularization, with aggressive long-term surveillance to ensure graft patency and limb viability.

Bypass grafts to the ankle and foot. A personal perspective

Our experience and that of others indicate that the number of very distal bypass operations is growing. From the early 1970s, when we performed a few operations per year, our numbers have increased to 60 to 65 operations annually, about 20% of all infrainguinal open revascularizations. Amputation of one leg leaves a patient, should he survive for a few years, with a second limb that is at substantial risk of infection or gangrene. From over 20 years of experience with thousands of diabetic leg problems and approximately 600 paramalleolar bypasses, the following facts have emerged from our clinical practice. Primary pedal arterial arches are virtually never complete. This alone should not deter the surgeon from attempting paramalleolar bypass grafting. Clinical details such as neuropathy, sepsis, and general medical status and even family support should not be overlooked as "risk factors." The order of frequency for pedal distal anastomotic sites will be anterior tibial/dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial/common plantar artery, lateral plantar artery/medial plantar artery, and lateral tarsal artery. In each case the graft should be placed as proximal as possible on the vessel; tibial outflow should be considered. Use short grafts with distal inflow whenever possible. In the rare instance wherein no pedal target site is available, consider the isolated tibial segment. Failure of a very distal bypass procedure seldom results in an amputation that is more proximal than otherwise would have been required if no bypass were attempted. As a corollary, after sepsis is controlled and all lesions and amputations are healed, failure of the graft may spare the limb from further risk of amputation. In diabetics, the presence of a palpable popliteal pulse and absence of foot pulse are tantamount to identifying the paramalleolar bypass graft candidate. Even the presence of palpable pedal pulses does not exclude patients who could achieve limb salvage with pedal bypass. That determination depends upon an angiogram. Pulsation and flow are not equivalent. Just as the obligations of the surgeon who performs an amputation are not discharged until healing and rehabilitation are complete, likewise, the vascular surgeon's duties after paramalleolar bypass must include a return to the ambulatory status. Careful follow-up, ongoing explicit patient and family education about foot care, and orthotics and shoes will enhance the life and life expectancy of the bipedal patient.

Comparative analysis of patency, limb salvage and survival in diabetic and non-diabetic patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass surgery

In 92 diabetic and 175 non-diabetic patients undergoing 336 femoropopliteal or femorodistal bypass procedures, 1- and 3-year cumulative life-table patency, limb salvage, and survival rates were comparatively analysed. The peroperative mortality rate was significantly higher in diabetic patients (5% compared to 1.4%, p < 0.001). The cumulative graft patency rates were 61% at 12 months and 46% at 36 months in diabetic patients compared to 64 and 52% in non-diabetic patients. Significantly better patency rates were observed in limbs with good runoff compared to limbs with poor runoff in both groups. The limb salvage rates at 3 years were 70% in diabetic patients and 62% in non-diabetic patients. The survival rate at 3 years was significantly lower in diabetic patients, 62% compared to 86% in non-diabetic patients. Diabetic patients with poor runoff demonstrated a significantly lower survival rate after 36 months compared to diabetic patients with good runoff (48% and 74%, respectively). The results of this study demonstrate that the early and intermediate patency and limb salvage rates are similar in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. On the other hand the survival rate in diabetic patients, especially in those with poor distal runoff, is significantly lower than non-diabetic patients.

Maintenance treatment of diabetic patients, associating arterial obstructive tibio-peroneal disease

When a melito-diabetic patient presents trophic infected injury on the limb, it is essential an evaluation of the circulatory conditions for therapeutic procedures orientation. In some circumstances, although arterial pulsation is absent, there is no ischemia of tissues. In these cases, the maintenance treatment, with eventual resection of the necrosed and infected tissues may be adopted. Evolution of 70 diabetic patients with trophic injuries on extremities were submitted to a maintenance treatment. Age of patients varied from 28 to 88 years, with an average of 56.8. The most occurrence was verified in women, with 42 cases. Diabetes non-dependent on insulin (type II) was observed in 64 patients (91.5%), being the remaining 6 patients of type I. Diabetic retinopathy was observed in 14 (20%) of the patients, neuropathy in 22 (31%) and nephropathy in 8 patients (11.4%). All the patients presented arterial pulsation until the popliteal region. They were divided in 2 groups, considering trunk arteries of legs: Group I, pervial legs arteries, composed by 48 patients; Group II, occluded legs arteries, with 22 patients. In what refers to the anatomic local of the injuries, patients were classified in three groups: Group A, formed by 32 patients (45.7%), presenting injuries in one or two toes only, without affecting the metatarsic region; Group B, formed by 16 patients (22.9%), trophic injuries affecting the metatarsic region and Group C, formed by 22 patients (31.4%), injuries affecting the calcaneous region. Injuries in both of the groups were caused by mechanical traumatism. Duration of the injury in the inferior member varied from 7 to 48 days, resulting in a 12 days average.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Leg ulcers

The treatment of leg ulcers is a common and sometimes difficult problem. They can be costly to treat and are associated with loss of working capacity and sometimes significant morbidity. In the western world, leg ulcers are most frequently caused by venous insufficiency, arterial insufficiency, neuropathy (usually diabetic), or a combination of these factors. The pathogenesis, clinical features, and management of these types of leg ulcers are emphasized in this review.

Popliteal-to-distal bypass grafts for limb salvage in diabetics

Between January 1984 and August 1989, 117 diabetic patients with a palpable popliteal pulse but distal limb threatening ischaemia underwent 124 popliteal artery (or below) to distal bypass grafts. All grafts were intra-operatively monitored. The operative mortality was 0.8% and the 30 day primary patency 93%. Primary patencies at 1 and 3 years were 88.6 and 85.2%, respectively. The results of using the popliteal artery as the proximal graft inflow site in diabetes are comparable to other patient groups and to alternative more proximal inflow sites, but require a shorter length of vein graft with a shorter vein harvesting incision, avoid groin disection and result in a more peripheral operation.

Late failure of reversed vein bypass grafts

Late failure of reversed vein bypass grafts is preceded by the appearance of stenotic lesions, which progress to total occlusion. These lesions appear either as intrinsic graft lesions or as new arteriosclerotic lesions in contiguous arteries. The present study summarizes the University of Pennsylvania experience with these lesions in 521 vein grafts inserted from 1979 to 1985. The grafts were grouped according to the site of the distal anastomosis; 231 above-knee popliteal (FP AK), 171 below-knee popliteal (FP BK), and 119 tibial (FT). The overall incidence of stenotic lesions was essentially identical with the three grafts (21%), but the relative incidence of intrinsic graft to arterial lesions was higher with the more distal grafts. The most common graft lesions developed adjacent to the proximal anastomosis, which is the narrowest part of a reversed vein graft. The popliteal artery was the most common site of outflow stenosis. There was negligible incidence of tibial lesions. The most common inflow arterial lesion was located in the common femoral and iliac arteries. The superficial femoral artery (SFA) was a rare site of inflow stenosis, even though it was at risk because 96 grafts originated from the SFA or popliteal artery. Sixty-seven per cent of the graft and 52% of the arterial lesions were treated successfully by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty; the rest had minor surgical revisions. This resulted in a 19%, 10%, and 9% improvement in 5-year patency for the FT, FP BK, and FP AK bypasses. These results justify an aggressive policy of graft surveillance to identify and treat stenotic graft lesions before graft occlusion.

Do operative results justify tibial artery reconstruction in the presence of pedal sepsis?

An aggressive surgical approach is warranted in all patients with a salvageable weight-bearing pedal surface. Although patients with pedal sepsis (69 limbs) had a lower 30 day limb salvage rate and higher morbidity and mortality rates than those without sepsis (34 limbs), the long-term salvage rates of both groups by life table analysis were not statistically different and remained at the 70 percent level 3 years postoperatively. Peribypass amputation, debridement of the septic foot, or both should be carried out when deemed necessary to decrease the risk of septic complications after revascularization. Other risk factors such as diabetes or heart disease had no bearing on the short-term results of bypass in either the septic or nonseptic group. Autogenous saphenous vein is preferable to synthetic bypass material, especially in patients with ongoing infection. Lastly, even though the medical climate in 1988 must reflect the stark reality of economic restrictions imposed by third-party payors, optimal patient care remains our primary responsibility. We believe that long-term pedal salvage, as achieved by arterial reconstruction, aggressive wound management, and rehabilitation, attains this goal.

Effect of inflow and outflow sites on the results of tibioperoneal vein grafts

We have reviewed our experience with the tibial vessel bypass operation and have found the overall patency and limb salvage rates to be acceptable. Patients were divided into two groups based on the site of the proximal anastomosis. In Group I, the proximal anastomosis was at the common femoral artery and in Group II, the proximal anastomosis was at the distal superficial femoral artery or the popliteal artery. The patients in the two groups were similar with regard to indications for operation, age, and sex. However, in Group I, 35 percent of the patients were diabetic and in Group II, 74 percent of the patients were diabetic. In the Group I patients, the 72 month graft patency rate was 65 percent with a limb salvage rate of 75 percent. In the Group II patients, the 72 month patency rate was 81 percent with a limb salvage rate of 89 percent. Some possible explanations for this slightly better result in Group II patients are discussed. All tibial bypasses were divided into three groups based on the recipient tibial artery. Analysis revealed that the 72 month patency rates were as follows: the anterior tibial artery 63 percent, the posterior tibial artery 81 percent, and the peroneal artery 80 percent. These differences were not significant but indicate, as others have recently pointed out, that the peroneal artery is indeed an acceptable recipient artery for tibial bypass surgery.

Comparison of initial limb salvage in 98 consecutive patients with either reversed autogenous or in situ vein bypass graft procedures

A retrospective review of 98 consecutive patients undergoing femoropopliteal or distal bypass procedures was conducted to determine whether in situ bypass grafting offers statistically significant initial limb salvage over reversed autogenous techniques. Over a 40 month period, 98 consecutive patients received either in situ or reversed autogenous vein grafts to effect limb salvage. The groups were similar in incidences of diabetes and previous myocardial infarctions, as well as in site of distal anastomosis (beneath the tibial peroneal trunk in more than 80 percent). The in situ vein graft group had an overall limb salvage rate of 92 percent with an 88 percent cumulative patency rate at 4 to 18 month follow-up, whereas the reversed autogenous vein graft group had a limb salvage rate of 86 percent with a 79 percent cumulative patency rate at up to 18 months. Results after 30 days showed 47 patients had improvement and 3 patients (6 percent) had died in the in situ vein graft group. In the reversed autogenous vein graft group, 44 patients improved, 4 did not improve and required amputations, and 2 (1 percent) died. Our study supports the use of in situ vein bypass grafting for limb salvage.