Long-term results of infragenicular bypasses with autogenous vein originating from the distal superficial femoral and popliteal arteries.

Forty-nine bypasses originating from the distal superficial femoral artery or popliteal artery in 46 patients were reviewed to examine late patency, limb salvage, and factors leading to graft failure. Operations were performed because of tissue loss in 86%, rest pain in 12%, and limiting claudication in 2% of limbs. Proximal anastomosis was from the distal superficial femoral artery in 12% and the popliteal artery in 88%. Distal anastomosis was to the below-knee popliteal artery or proximal tibial vessels in 20% and the distal tibial vessels in 80%. Life-table analysis showed a primary patency rate of 83%, 62%, and 41%, at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The rate of limb salvage at 6 years for all grafts was 69%. Cox proportional hazards analysis determined that stenosis of 20% or greater in the proximal superficial femoral artery before bypass was a significant risk factor for graft failure (p = 0.02) despite the presence of normal intra-arterial pressure at the site of the proximal anastomosis at the time of bypass. Long-term survival in these patients was low, with a 6-year survival rate of only 24%. Infragenicular bypasses originating from the distal superficial femoral artery or the popliteal artery can be performed with patency and limb salvage rates comparable to bypasses originating from the common femoral artery. These bypasses are more likely to fail when performed in the presence of a stenosis 20% or greater in the superficial femoral or popliteal artery proximal to the graft origin.