Comparison of iliofemoral and femorofemoral crossover bypass in the treatment of unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J D Beard.
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A 47-year-old woman with intestinal angina due to multiple visceral artery occlusions was treated surgically but suffered early thrombosis of an aorta-to-superior mesenteric artery (SMA) bypass graft and the return of her symptoms. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the occluded native origin of the SMA was successful. Three months later she is well and gaining weight. Several series of patients treated by PTA of superior mesenteric artery stenoses have been published, but to our knowledge this is the first report of the successful application of the technique to a complete SMA occlusion.
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A prospective vein graft screening programme was established in order to improve graft patency in the period 1-12 months after operation. Patient assessment consisted of ankle:brachial pressure index (ABPI) measurement before and after exercise, and Duplex scanning. Thirty-nine grafts have been followed up, with 19 stenoses detected in 18 grafts (46%) using Duplex. Of these 18 grafts, six had a serial fall in resting ABPI, median 0.14 (range 0.11-0.33), and nine had a post-exercise ABPI fall, median 0.19 (range 0.13-0.4). The remaining three had a normal ABPI but were unable to exercise. Fifteen grafts have been treated, 12 by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and three by surgery. One stenosis treated with PTA recurred within 3 months and was repaired with a vein patch. Since screening was implemented no grafts in the programme have occluded. This study indicates that simple ABPI measurements can be used to screen "at risk" grafts for evaluation with Duplex scanning, without jeopardising graft patency.
The mortality and morbidity of acute limb ischaemia remain high despite advances in surgical and radiological techniques. In this article we consider the aetiology, clinical features and prognosis of the condition and then detail the overall management and radiological techniques (predominantly thrombolysis) available.
Surgical management of acute lower limb ischaemia has been changed by the advent of thrombolytic therapy. Surgery is definitely indicated for severe ischaemia with sensorimotor loss and is best undertaken by vascular surgeons. On-table arteriography and intraoperative streptokinase are useful adjuncts to balloon catheter embolectomy.
The measurement of peripheral resistance (PR) is a useful technique for predicting the outcome of femorodistal bypass. In an attempt, noninvasively, to predict PR, Pulse Generated Runoff (PGR) was used to assess 35 consecutive patients undergoing femorodistal non-reversed vein bypass for critical ischaemia. The PGR subscores (anterior tibial, posterior tibial, peroneal, pedal arch status were correlated against the measured PR. Using multiple linear regression three resistance values were derived for runoff at different levels: (1) a single calf vessel (R1); (2) distal popliteal artery (R3); (3) irrespective of the level (R0). There was good agreement between the predicted resistances R0, R1 and R3 and the measured PR. In the single calf vessel group (R1) the limits of agreement (-0.41 to +0.39) and 95 per cent confidence interval (-0.16 to +0.14) with the measured PR were better than in the R0 and R3 groups. These levels of agreement are small enough to replace the measured PR with the predicted PR method. Using the appropriate resistance equation in a further prospective series of 14 cases, there was agreement between the predicted and measured PR (limits of agreement -0.67 to +0.41; 95 per cent confidence interval -0.26 to +0.15). These results confirm the value of PGR in the assessment of critically ischaemic limbs particularly with a single calf vessel. Calf vessel continuity with the pedal arch appears to be a major determinant of PR, particularly in the isolated calf vessel group. A non-invasive resistance value can be derived which will predict the intraoperative peripheral resistance and should help predict subsequent graft outcome.
A total of 145 consecutive patients receiving a colorectal anastomosis were randomized to 'test' or 'no test' once the anastomosis had been completed. Anastomotic testing was performed with the pelvis filled with saline and the rectum distended by sigmoidoscopic insufflation of air. Any leaks demonstrated were oversewn. A water-soluble contrast enema was performed on the tenth postoperative day. Seventy-four patients were randomized to 'test' and 71 to 'no test' but one patient was withdrawn from each group leaving a total of 143 for analysis. The two groups were well matched for age, sex, diagnosis and operative details. Eighteen (25 per cent) air leaks were detected and repaired in the 'test' group. After operation there were three (4 per cent) clinical leaks in the 'test' group and ten (14 per cent) in the 'no test' group (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.043). There were eight (11 per cent) radiological leaks in the 'test' group and 20 (29 per cent) in the 'no test' group (P = 0.006). Intraoperative air testing and repair of colorectal anastomoses significantly reduces the risk of postoperative clinical and radiological leaks.
The results of 373 infrainguinal bypass grafts, in a single centre, between 1980 and 1988 are reviewed. One hundred and thirty in situ vein (ISV), 47 reversed saphenous vein (RSV), 118 polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and 78 human umbilical vein (HUV) grafts were used. The indications for surgery were disabling claudication in 25 per cent of patients and limb salvage in 75 per cent. In 36 per cent of operations the distal anastomosis was above the knee and in 64 per cent it was below the knee. Overall 5-year patency rates and limb salvage rates respectively were, for ISV (41 and 69 per cent), RSV (62 and 90 per cent), PTFE (31 and 67 per cent) and HUV (29 and 59 per cent). There was no significant difference in patency among these grafts at the above-knee level, but significant differences between vein and prosthetic grafts were evident below the knee (P less than 0.001). Using a proportional hazards model the three factors that consistently correlated with late graft patency were graft type (P less than 0.001), site of distal anastomosis (P less than 0.001) and distal run-off (P less than 0.001). Overall, the results suggest that prosthetic grafts are a suitable alternative to autogenous vein when the distal anastomosis is above the knee, but vein should always be used, if available, below the knee joint.
A computerised personal audit for surgical trainees has been devised to supplement the newly introduced log books of operations performed. The audit uses a standard database programme and an IBM-PC compatible microcomputer. For ease of entry, the principle diagnosis, operation and any complication are entered in the form of a simple code with the help of an on-screen index. The system has been used for three years by one surgical trainee, with a total of 1,500 operations now on record. Rapid retrieval of an individual patient's details or a list of any data combination required is possible. The operative log book thus becomes part of a powerful personal audit from which surgical trainees can assess their experience and results.
Operative measurements using a newly developed Doppler flowmeter were made on 47 in situ femorodistal bypass grafts performed for critical ischaemia. Graft blood flow, peripheral resistance and impedance were measured before and after the injection of 15 mg papaverine down the graft. The proportion of retrograde blood flow at the distal anastomosis was also measured. The success of a graft at 1 month was defined by patency on duplex ultrasound scanning, a rise in the Doppler ankle pressures and an improvement in the clinical state of the limb. By these criteria the 1-month primary success rate was 35 out of 47 (74 per cent). Graft blood flow was of little value in predicting graft outcome but, combined with segmental pressures, accurately located six of eight technical problems which were successfully corrected. After papaverine, the peripheral resistance of all the successful grafts fell below one peripheral resistance unit (PRU). No single measurement was able to completely distinguish between success and failure, although discriminant analysis of all measurements was able to predict success with a sensitivity of 100 per cent and specificity of 97 per cent. A simpler combination of a peripheral resistance after papaverine less than 1 PRU and a retrograde blood flow less than 33 per cent predicted success, with a sensitivity of 97 per cent and specificity 83 per cent. These criteria have been validated on a further 26 grafts, achieving a sensitivity of 88 per cent and a specificity of 75 per cent. Simple operative measurements, using a newly developed Doppler flowmeter, enable the detection of technical problems and the accurate prediction of the early outcome of femorodistal grafting.
Conventional arteriography is the investigation of choice in patients with critical ischaemia to select the site for the distal anastomosis of a femorodistal bypass. Several arteriographic scoring systems have been devised in an attempt to quantify the run-off. More recently Pulse Generated Run-off and intraoperative peripheral resistance measurements have been proposed as better predictors of early graft patency. Eighty-eight consecutive femorodistal bypass grafts were studied using Pulse Generated Run-off (PGR), conventional and intra-arterial digital subtraction arteriography (DSA) and peripheral resistance measurement. Three widely used arteriographic scoring systems were used to grade the arteriographic run-off. There were significant correlations between the scoring systems and the measured peripheral resistance, although PGR correlated better with peripheral resistance than arteriography (rs = -0.59, P less than 0.001). Intra-arterial DSA improved the correlation between the arteriogram scoring systems and the measured peripheral resistance in the distal popliteal artery, but not in single calf vessels. In contrast, PGR correlated much better with peripheral resistance in single calf vessels (rs = -0.82, P less than 0.001). We recommend that selection for femorodistal reconstruction be based on a combination of intra-arterial DSA and PGR. PGR will identify patent distal calf vessels not seen on arteriography and determine their continuity with the pedal arch, two features which are essential prerequisites for successful femorodistal bypass.
The long saphenous vein is frequently used as a graft in both coronary artery and femoro-distal bypass surgery. The histological changes which are seen after implantation into the arterial system have been well documented in the past, but little attention has been focused on the histological appearances of the donor long saphenous vein prior to grafting. In this study, samples of the long saphenous vein in excess of that required for bypass have been examined. In none of the veins did the histological appearances conform to the described normal. All showed evidence of intimal fibrosis which contained elastic tissue and enmeshed smooth muscle cells. The longitudinal and circular muscle layers showed evidence of muscle cell hypertrophy with increase in intervening connective tissue. Elsewhere, similar histological changes have been attributed to 'arterialization'. This study shows that many of the changes are present prior to grafting and may be important in graft failure.
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The results of 85 in situ vein femoro-distal bypass grafts using a modified technique where the vein was completely mobilised but left "non-reversed" have been reviewed with particular regard to risk factors and complications. The distal anastomosis was to the infrageniculate popliteal artery in 55% and to the tibioperoneal trunk or a single calf vessel in the rest. Arteriographic run-off was by a single vessel in 42%. The primary failure rate at 1 month was 20% and the secondary failure rate 9%; the majority of early failures being due to missed technical errors despite the use of a pulse volume recorder. The cumulative secondary patency rate at 1 and 2 years was 77% and 72%; limb salvage 85% and 77%; and patient survival 89% and 83% respectively. The only significant risk factors were the level of the distal anastomosis and the run-off (P = 0.002 and 0.03 respectively). Complete mobilisation of the vein allows a tension free proximal anastomosis to the common femoral artery and avoids the risk of arteriovenous fistulae. A high vein utilisation rate of 93% was achieved by using a small 2.5 mm Hall valvulotome. Although there was a trend towards lower patency rates in veins with a minimum diameter less than 4 mm the results are still superior to PTFE. Compared to reversed vein the in situ technique has a better utilisation rate and the long-term patency rates are at least as good if not better. Improved methods of haemodynamic assessment during reconstruction to reduce technical errors may be the key to better early patency rates.