Long-term results of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with spliced veins are equal to results with non-spliced veins

Objectives: to determine the long term patency of spliced and non-spliced infrainguinal vein grafts. Methods. a prospective registry of all patients undergoing infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with autogenous vein material was retrospectively interrogated, Results: between October 1988 and August 2000, 515 infrainguinal arterial reconstructions were performed on 472 patients. A total of 429 bypasses were performed with uninterrupted greater saphenous vein, 86 reconstructions using spliced vein segments. There was no significant difference in primary (63% vs 57%) and primary assisted patency (81% vs 81%) of limb salvage (88% vs 91%) at 5 years. Limb salvage was not different (88% and 91% respectively). Conclusion: the splicing of vein grafts does not compromise patency of limb salvage.