Autogenous Vein Bypass Grafting for Arteriosclerosis Obliterans: A Comparison between the Recent and Previous Decades

Abstract

Autogenous vein bypass grafting for arteriosclerosis obliterans in 246 limbs of 215 cases in the past decade (group R) were compared with those on 256 limbs of 212 cases in the previous decade (group P). There was a significant increase in concomitance of diabetes mellitus, chronic hemodialysis, critical limb ischemia, and paramalleolar bypass in group R than group P. The majority of graft failures, which were mainly caused by poor quality of veins and regional intimal hyperplasia, occurred within 2 years postoperatively in both groups. The 5-year cumulative secondary patency rates were 90.3% in group P and 94.8% in group R, and the 10-year secondary patency rate were 85.6% in group P and 92.6% in group R, respectively. The changes of clinical backgrounds such as an increase of co-morbidity, critical limb ischemia and paramalleolar bypass did not affect the graft patency.