Palmar arch revascularization for arterial occlusion of the distal upper extremity

During a period of nine years, 10 patients, ages 42 to 66 years (55 +/- 7, mean +/- SD) underwent upper extremity bypass for ischemic changes to the hand not responsive to conservative management. Patients were referred from the vascular department at the authors' institution. Preoperative angiograms were performed and attempts at angioplasty or intravenous attempts to dissolve clots were carried out (with tissue plasminogen activator-tPA) when appropriate. Patients with persistent upper extremity ischemia and an obvious occlusion with reconstitution in the hand were candidates for upper extremity bypass to the palmar arch. All patients had upper extremity bypasses performed with reverse saphenous vein grafts. The proximal anastomoses (end-to-side) were performed by either the vascular or plastic surgery team, while all distal anastomoses (end-to-side) were performed by plastic surgery team microscopic magnification to the deep or superficial palmar arch. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 3 months to 3 years. The bypass graft to the hand resulted in improved pain and resolution of tissue ischemia in all cases. Patients with preoperative ulcers were completely healed by 3 months. The results are in accordance with previous studies demonstrating that improved blood flow afforded by the procedure can improve the healing of recalcitrant ulcers and mitigate the symptoms of ischemic changes. In addition, end-to-side anastomosis to the palmar arch offers significant advantages, in that the continuity of the arch is maintained with all possible outflow vessels, and the problems associated with size discrepancy in the anastomosed vessels are eliminated.