Impact of infrapopliteal endovascular treatment on the outcome of subsequent ipsilateral distal bypass for critical limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND

We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of distal bypass for critical limb ischemia and investigated the impact on outcomes of prior unsuccessful ipsilateral infrapopliteal endovascular treatment (EVT).

METHODS

Between January 2005 and December 2014, we performed 142 infrainguinal bypasses for critical limb ischemia with ischemic gangrene (Rutherford classes V or VI), including 80 distal bypasses in 74 patients (male 54, female 20, median age 68.4 years, range 51-81 years). All distal bypasses used an autologous saphenous vein graft. Surgical outcomes were compared between 37 distal bypasses without prior infrapopliteal EVT (NEVT group) and 43 distal bypasses after unsuccessful infrapopliteal EVT (PEVT group). Infrapopliteal EVT was performed with balloon dilatation without stenting in all cases.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in preoperative conditions or risk factors between the NEVT and PEVT groups, except for the era of bypass surgery and dependence on hemodialysis. The 3-year primary and secondary patencies were 69% and 72% in the NEVT group and 78% and 80% in the PEVT group (P=0.86, P=0.79). The 3-year limb salvage rates were 81% in the NEVT group and 82% in the PEVT group (P=0.52), and the 3-year amputation-free survival rates were 56% and 57% in the respective groups (P=0.32). Standard errors of the mean for all Kaplan-Meier curves were <10% within 3 years follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical outcomes of distal bypass without prior infrapopliteal EVT were not superior to those of distal bypass after unsuccessful ipsilateral infrapopliteal EVT. Therefore, unsuccessful infrapopliteal EVT does not have a negative impact on the outcome of subsequent ipsilateral distal bypass in patients with critical limb ischemia.