The importance of plasma lipid, glucose, insulin and fibrinogen in femoropopliteal surgery

Abstract

Abstract Fasting blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin and fibrinogen were measured preoperatively in 44 patients who had reconstructive operations for occlusive disease in the femoral and popliteal arteries. Comparison of these preoperative biochemical measurements with the results of surgery over a 4-year period indicated that failure was associated with significantly higher mean preoperative levels of both glucose (P < 0.01) and fibrinogen (P < 0.01). High fasting blood glucose was associated with early failure (occlusion between 3 and 12 months) and high plasma fibrinogen was associated with late failure (occlusion between 1 and 4 years). The results of operation were not influenced significantly by preoperative blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride or insulin.