Related Experiment Videos
Does saphenous vein arterialisation prevent major amputation in critical leg ischaemia? A comparative study
S Mätzke1, J Pitkänen, M Lepäntalo
1Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Background:
Arterialisation of the great saphenous vein has been suggested to improve distal circulation in patients with critical leg ischaemia not accessible for reconstructive surgery. As the technique has been a matter of controversy the aim was to assess the outcome of a series of own patients treated with arterialisation and compare them with conservatively treated patients.
Experimental Design:
a retrospective cohort study.
Setting:
an academic referral centre (Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital) together with a district hospital (Peijas-Rekola Hospital).
Patients And Interventions:
14 consecutive patients with critical leg ischaemia treated with arterialisation of the great saphenous vein in the district hospital were compared with 14 age, sex, diabetes and symptom severity-matched controls with critical leg ischaemia treated conservatively in the academic referral centre.
Measures:
major amputations and patient survival.
Results:
The leg salvage rate was 57% at one year in the arterialisation group and 54% in the conservative group (NS) but the survival rate at one year was 92% in the operative group and 64% in the control group (NS).
Conclusions:
Arterialisation did not have any effect on leg salvage. The results of this study do not support the use of arterialisation as a treatment for critical leg ischaemia