Crural arterial reconstruction with an adjunct arteriovenous fistula for limb salvage

Twenty-one femoro-crural bypass procedures with a distal arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) were constructed in 20 patients with severe leg ischemia (Fontaine stage III, IV). They were followed-up for 3 to 22 months, with a mean of 8 months. The 15 patients with patent grafts and fistulas no longer had pain at rest; ischemic necroses healed. Telethermography showed a considerable augmentation of the distal limb perfusion. The mean increase of the transcutaneous oxygen pressure was 30 mmHg. One early postoperative amputation was necessary due to graft infection. Another patient lost her leg because of bypass occlusion 9 months after arterial reconstruction. Four patients with late graft occlusion kept their regained mobility and alleviation. Our data confirm experimental results suggesting that femoro-crural bypass with a dAVF improves distal leg perfusion by reversal venous blood flow and stimulation of a collateral network. Femoro-crural bypass with a dAVF may be of benefit in selected cases when only one crural artery is patent and pedal arch vessels are absent.