Purpose: In the absence of an adequate ipsilateral greater saphenous vein, various alternative conduits have been used for the performance of lower extremity revascularization. In this study we compared the effectiveness of all-autogenous arm vein bypass grafts with that of prosthetic grafts.
Methods: Seven hundred forty lower extremity revascularization procedures (506 arm vein, 234 prosthetic) performed between 1990 and 1999 were followed prospectively by means of a computerized vascular registry.
Results: Bypass graft configurations were femoro-above-knee-popliteal (26 arm vein, 100 prosthetic); femoro-below-knee-popliteal (38 arm vein, 29 prosthetic); femorotibial (174 arm vein, 55 prosthetic); femoropedal (23 arm vein, 2 prosthetic); popliteotibial/pedal (101 arm vein, 1 prosthetic); and extension "jump" grafts (144 arm vein, 47 prosthetic). The indications for surgery were limb salvage (98.0% arm vein, 89.7% prosthetic) and disabling claudication (2.0% arm vein, 10.3% prosthetic). The mean follow-up was 23.4 months (range, 1 month-7.4 years). Overall patient survival at 4 years was 54% (arm vein) and 69% (prosthetic). Cumulative patency varied with graft configuration. The 1-year primary patency rates for femorotibial grafts were 81.6% +/- 3.6% (arm vein) and 58.0% +/- 8.4% (prosthetic); the 3-year rates were 68.3% +/- 6.1% (arm vein) and 41.1% +/- 9.8% (prosthetic) (P<.01). The 1-year limb salvage rates for femorotibial grafts were 91.1% +/- 2.8% (arm vein) and 69.1% +/- 8. 8% (prosthetic); the 3-year rates were 81.4% +/- 5.6% (arm vein) and 63.2% +/- 10.3% (prosthetic) (P =.02). The 1-year primary patency rates for femoro-below-knee-popliteal grafts were 92.9% +/- 5.1% (arm vein) and 83.4% +/- 8.0% (prosthetic); the 3-year rates were 72.8% +/- 10.1% (arm vein) and 55.5% +/- 12.1% (prosthetic) (P=.05). The 1-year limb salvage rates for femoro-below-knee-popliteal grafts were 100% (arm vein) and 91.3% +/- 7.0% (prosthetic); the 3-year rates were 94.7% +/- 7.3% (arm vein) and 75.3% +/- 14.6% (prosthetic) (P = NS).
Conclusion: In this study autogenous arm vein grafts demonstrated increased patency and limb salvage, compared with prosthetic grafts. These increases achieved statistical significance in the femoro-below-knee-popliteal and femorotibial configurations. An effort to use an all-autogenous vein conduit is justified on the basis of these results; however, if no autogenous vein is available, prosthetic grafts provide a reasonable alternative to primary amputation.