THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF THE NON-INVASIVE VASCULAR LABORATORY IN AUTOLOGOUS VEIN BYPASSES OF THE LOWER-EXTREMITIES

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 24  (3) , 231-234
Abstract
A retrospective study of 34 patients with 29 autologous vein femoropopliteal and 8 femorotibial bipasses was conducted, examining the correlation of angiographic runoff and non-invasive flow determinants as prognostic indicators of early graft occlusion of lower limb bypass grafts. The follow-up period was 3-27 mo., with a mean of 5.8 mo. Graft patency and improvement in presenting symptoms were unrelated to preoperative ankle systolic pressure indices. Preoperative and postoperative flow measurements were similar in patients with patent grafts (> 12 mo.) and in those with early graft occlusion (0.6 mo., P > 0.05). Preoperative pressure indices did not correlate with calf vessel runoff (P > 0.05). The data suggest: the noninvasive flow studies are not reliable predictors of future graft patency, vessel runoff is not a reliable predictor of limb flow and bypass procedures in the lower extremities should not be excluded on the basis of noninvasive flow studies when indicated by other clinical parameters.

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