Hybrid procedures for peripheral obstructive disease

The incidence and prevalence of high-risk patients suffering from critical limb ischemia due to multilevel arterial obstructive disease is growing rapidly. Invasive surgical procedures to restore inflow to the crural and pedal circulation in case of TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus C and D (TASC) lesions of the iliacofemoral arteries are related with substantial morbidity and mortality. The mid-term and long-term outcomes of sole percutaneous revascularization procedures are disappointing for TASC C and D lesions. Hybrid endovascular and open surgical revascularization procedures might be of benefit because of its less invasive character, no need for extensive venous graft material, and the ability to overcome long-segment arterial obstructions. The common femoral artery (CFA) plays a central role in most of the hybrid procedures. CFA desobstruction, in combination with open iliac angioplasty or open superficial femoral artery (SFA) angioplasty, and CFA desobstruction with remote endarterectomy of the superficial femoral artery, are commonplace. Another valuable hybrid technique is open angioplasty of the SFA and one-staged distal origin bypass grafting. Hybrid techniques can safely be performed in the vascular operating room providing that the inventory is equipped for endovascular interventions. Vascular surgeons with thorough experience in open transluminal angioplasty, whether or not in cooperation with interventional radiologists or angiologists, will have the lead in the preoperative and perioperative planning. No randomized controlled trials have been published comparing hybrid techniques and open surgical reconstructions, or sole endvascular methods for multilevel peripheral arterial disease. During the last decade, multiple prospective and retrospective series have been reported concerning hybrid techniques, all with good initial technical success (up to 95%) and acceptable 30-day morbidity and mortality rates. Mid-term and long-term patency rates are comparable with the more invasive sole surgical revascularization procedures. The results of the endovascular part of the hybrid procedures are still influenced by the extent of the obstructions (best results in TASC A and B lesions), and patency rates of bypasses are inversely associated with increasing length of the conduit. A review of the literature concludes that hybrid techniques for the treatment of severe lower extremity arterial disease provide less invasive, long lasting, and reliable therapeutic options tailored to the needs of high-risk patients and should be in the armamentarium of today's vascular surgeon.