Critical assessment of the outcome of infrainguinal vein bypass

Objective To perform a more critical assessment of infrainguinal vein bypass. Summary Background Data Graft patency may give an unrealistic impression of the outcome of bypass surgery. Methods During a 6-year period, 236 patients undergoing primary vein grafts were entered into the study. An ideal outcome required the patient to have survived 12 months with a patent graft on duplex scanning, no perioperative complication, and no further related open or endovascular surgery or admission. Results At 12 months, the secondary graft patency rate was 82%; however, only 22% of patients had an ideal outcome. At 1 year, 44 (19%) patients died, 93 (39%) required further ipsilateral and 39 (17%) contralateral intervention, and a total of 108 (46%) were readmitted. An ideal outcome was more likely in patients receiving calcium channel blockers, principally because of improved primary patency, and less likely in those with cardiac failure requiring furosemide, principally because of worse survival in these patients. Conclusions Few patients achieve an ideal result after infrainguinal vein bypass. Outcome may be improved by the use of calcium channel blockers. Careful consideration is required before performing revascularization in patients with cardiac failure.