Predictors of infrapopliteal vein bypass graft revision in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia

PURPOSE

Surgical revascularization is the standard treatment for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). However, some patients may require reintervention. The Global Anatomic Staging System (GLASS), which evaluates the complexity of infrainguinal lesions, was proposed. This study aimed to identify predictors for graft revision and evaluate whether GLASS impacts vein graft revision.

METHODS

Between 2011 and 2018, CLTI patients who underwent de novo infrapopliteal bypass using autogenous veins were retrospectively analyzed. To assess anatomic complexity with GLASS, femoropopliteal, infrapopliteal, and inframalleolar/pedal (IM) disease grades were determined. The outcomes of patients with or without graft revision were compared. Cox regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-six of the 80 patients underwent reintervention for graft revision. Compared to the non-graft revision group, the graft revision group exhibited significantly higher rates of GLASS stage III (66% vs 81%, p = 0.046) and grade P2 IM disease (25% vs 58%, p = 0.009). Multivariate analysis revealed that IM grade P2 (hazard ratio [HR], 3.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66-6.75; p = 0.001) and spliced vein grafts (HR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.43-7.06; p = 0.005) were significantly associated with graft revision.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that IM grade P2 and spliced vein grafts were predictors of graft revision. The GLASS stratification of IM disease grade may be useful in optimizing treatment for CLTI.

Distal Bypass Versus Infrageniculate Endovascular Intervention for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) carries a high risk of amputation and warrants urgent intervention. CLTI involving the infrageniculate vessels, in particular, carries a considerably higher risk of major limb amputation. Open surgical bypass is the historical gold standard for the treatment of tibial arterial disease; however, endovascular therapy provides an attractive alternative in this high-risk patient population. In this article, we review the existing literature regarding distal bypass and infrageniculate endovascular intervention in patients with CLTI.

Long-Term Results of Distal Bypass for Intermittent Claudication

BACKGROUND

Distal bypass (DB) is the optimal treatment for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). However, effectiveness of DB for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) remains uncertain. This study aimed to analyze long-term results of DB for IC patients (IC-DB) compared with those of DB for CLI patients (CLI-DB).

METHODS

Patients undergoing DB from January 2009 to July 2018 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Operative details, primary and secondary patency, amputation free survival rate (AFS), and long-term exercise capacity using Barthel index were analyzed.

RESULTS

Out of 302 DB (245 patients), 49 IC-DB were performed in 43 patients: 38 males, mean age 70.3 ± 8.0 years, diabetes mellitus 51%, chronic renal failure with hemodialysis 7%. The Great saphenous vein was used in 47 limbs, the small saphenous vein in 1, and the arm vein in 1. These grafts were bypassed in a non-reversed fashion for 35 limbs, in an in-situ fashion in 9, and in a reversed fashion in 5. The mean operative time was 173 min. The mean follow-up was 25 ± 26 months. Primary and secondary patency of IC-DB was 79% and 94% at 1 year, 71% and 90% at 3 years, 65% and 90% at 5 years, which were significantly higher than those of CLI-DB (primary patency: P = .007, secondary patency: P = .025). AFS of IC-DB and CLI-DB was 100% and 77% at 1 year, 93% and 52% at 3 years, and 90% and 43% at 5 years (IC-DB vs. CLI-DB, p < .0001). Barthel index of IC-DB unchanged at discharge (median 100) and at the last visit (median 100), showing daily activity was maintained adequately.

CONCLUSIONS

DB could offer a promising approach for patients with IC because of durable graft patency, acceptable AFS, and maintenance of daily activity.

Surgical revascularization and reconstruction procedures in diabetic foot ulceration

This article summarizes surgical procedures for preservation of the foot in diabetic patients with peripheral artery disease. Distal bypass surgery performed to perigeniculate arteries and to an isolated 'blind' popliteal segment with visible collaterals can be performed with limb salvage rates close to what can be achieved with standard bypass to crural arteries. This is also the case when performing bypass to the dorsalis pedis artery. Bypass to the medial or lateral plantar artery or to the lateral tarsal artery is associated with a relatively high rate of early occlusion, but in the patients who have persistently open grafts, limb salvage is common. The use of an arteriovenous fistula as an adjunct to distal bypass surgery does not improve prognosis. Venous arterialization, either creating retrograde perfusion of the superficial or of the deep veins of the foot has been successful in several cases although it is difficult to predict which patients will benefit. Reconstructive surgery is often performed in a multidisciplinary team including plastic surgeons. In patients with need of more extensive cover of defects, the transplant of muscular or fasciocutaneous free flaps has provided good results in the few centres that have applied this technique. This procedure can be combined with a revascularization in the same session or at a later stage. A majority of the described techniques can be implemented in most vascular centres and they should be considered in complicated cases when standard methods of revascularization and reconstruction do not suffice.

Inframalleolar Bypass to the Distal Portion of the Lateral Tarsal Artery for Limb Salvage

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to rest pain and gangrene on his left second foot digit. Angiography revealed continuous patency from the superficial femoral artery stent to the below-knee popliteal artery with a diffuse, occlusive lesion in the crural arteries. The distal portion of the lateral tarsal artery was patent. Popliteal to lateral tarsal artery bypass was performed, and an immediate amputation of the second foot digit resulted in secondary healing. Vascular surgeons should consider the distal portion of the lateral tarsal artery as an effective alternative target for infragenicular revascularization.

Distal Bypass to the Palmar Arch to Rescue Digital Ischemia Due to Peripheral Artery Disease

Digital ischemia is a serious problem in peripheral artery diseases (PAD) patients. Case 1: A 60-year-old woman with large arteriovenous fistula (AVF) complained of digital ischemia symptoms. The patient underwent dissection of AVF and distal bypass to the palmar arch with successful repair. Case 2: A 47-year-old female, diagnosed with renal failure, and scleroderma, complained of a digital gangrene. A bypass was performed from the left brachial artery to the superficial palmar arch. The digital gangrene showed a complete recovery within 2 months after surgery. Distal bypass to the palmar arch thus appears to be a useful procedure to re-establish digital circulation in PAD patients.

In Situ Popliteal-Tibial Bypass With the Short Saphenous Vein Through a Posterior Approach for Limb Salvage

A 69-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital with gangrene of her left first and second digits. Angiography showed a diffuse occlusive lesion from the external iliac artery to the crural arteries. Endovascular therapy to the external iliac artery, above-knee femoropopliteal bypass with a polytetrafluoroethylene graft, and popliteal-tibial bypass through a posterior approach with the short saphenous vein graft were performed in 3 stages because the length of the great saphenous vein that was suitable for grafting was insufficient. Vascular surgeons should be aware of the posterior approach as an effective alternative procedure for infragenicular revascularization.

Distal bypass to a critically ischemic foot increases the skin perfusion pressure at the opposite site of the distal anastomosis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the study was to reveal the effect of blood flow supply to the foot by analyzing the skin perfusion pressure values and the pedal arch connection after bypass surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We selected 48 operated limbs whose skin perfusion pressure was measured pre- and post-operatively on the opposite site of distal anastomosis. We also assigned the ischemic limbs to three groups according to the patency of the pedal arch: good, intermediate, and poor.

RESULTS

The mean value of skin perfusion pressure increased significantly from 27.0 ± 14.9 to 52.8 ± 16.0 (p < 0.001) post-operatively. Skin perfusion pressure improved in most of the limbs post-operatively and decreased or unchanged in only four limbs, all of which showed improved tissue loss. Three amputated limbs were due to infection, and all showed an increase in skin perfusion pressure.

CONCLUSION

It was difficult to correlate limb prognosis to skin perfusion pressure and the pedal arch connection.

Traumatic disruption of saphenous vein graft bypassed to the dorsalis pedis artery

We describe a rare case of traumatic disruption of saphenous vein graft bypassed to the dorsalis pedis artery. The vein graft was disrupted at the level of ankle joint by blunt trauma and symptoms of acute foot ischemia were recognized. The injured vein graft was reconstructed with cephalic vein graft interposition. He has been free from any events of foot ischemia at 10 months follow-up with patent vein graft to the dorsalis pedis artery.