Repeat Surgery Without Preoperative Angiography in Limbs With Patent Infrainguinal Bypass Grafts

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and results of repeat surgery without preoperative angiography in limbs with patent infrainguinal bypass grafts. Between January 1995 and December 1999, 73 surgical interventions were performed for correction of inflow, graft, or runoff-related lesions in limbs with patent infrainguinal bypass grafts. Fifty-six of the 73 cases were operated on based on the findings obtained from duplex scanning alone. There were 53 vein and 3 prosthetic grafts in the series. The indications for intervention without angiography were stenotic or occlusive lesions in 35, graft aneurysm in 7, and arteriovenous fistulae in 14. There were no deviations from the preoperatively planned surgical strategy in patients undergoing surgery without preoperative angiography. Cumulative life table primary, (stenosis free) and primary-assisted patency rates, at 12 months following graft revisions (excluding arteriovenous fistulae ligatures) without preoperative angiography, were 64% and 85%, respectively. The corresponding figures for revisions performed with preoperative angiography were 58% and 84%, respectively. There were no significant differences between patients undergoing surgery with or without preoperative diagnostic angiography with regard to patency rates. Surgical interventions for correction of infrainguinal graft-related stenotic or aneurysmal lesions can be safely performed based on findings obtained from duplex scanning.