A comparison of interposition and femoropopliteal bypass grafts in the management of popliteal artery trauma

BACKGROUND

Peripheral vascular injury associated with lower limb trauma is a well-known emergency. The experience for the management of popliteal artery trauma have mainly come from managing the traumas of military personnels during Iran-Iraq war. The present study compared the effects of two currently-used surgical techniques in the management of popliteal trauma, namley femoropopliteal bypass graft and interposition vein graft on limb salvage.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 40 patients with popliteal artery trauma admitted to the trauma unit of a university teaching hospital during 2003 to 2008. The patients had undergone femoropopliteal bypass graft (n=26) or interposition vein graft (n=14) for the management of popliteal trauma.

RESULTS

The amputation rate among patients managed by femoropopliteal bypass or interposition vein graft was 35.7% and 61.5%, respectively. Knee stability among patients managed by interposition graft group was 57.7% and in those managed by femoropopliteal bypass graft was 85.7%.

CONCLUSION

The rates of knee stability achieved by the employed techniques indicate that femoropopliteal bypass vein graft is superior, and therefore, preferable to the interposition vein graft in the management of popliteal artery trauma.

Secondary aortoenteric fistula

Secondary aortoenteric fistula (SAF) is an uncommon but very important complication of abdominal aortic reconstruction. The complication often occurs months to years after aortic surgery. The clinical manifestation of the aortoenteric fistula is always upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Treatment of the disease is early surgical intervention. If operative treatment is not performed promptly, the mortality is high. A case of secondary aortoduodenal fistula found 6 years after aortic reconstructive surgery, with the clinical presentation of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, is presented. On Immediate exploratory laparotomy, the proximal part of abdominal aorta was clamped. Duodenorrhaphy and aortic reconstruction with patch graft at the proximal suture line of aortic prosthesis was performed. Fortunately there was no pus, so tissue culture was not done. The intervention was concluded with an omentoplasty to protect the patch graft and to separate it from duodenorrhaphy. The patient did well after the surgical management. Because of the increasing number of elective aortic aneurysm repairs in the aging population, it is likely that more patients with secondary aortoenteric fistula will present to the clinical physicians in the future. So, a high index of suspicion is necessary for prompt diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening event.