Outcomes of lower extremity bypass surgery in patients with renal transplants

Outcomes of infrainguinal bypass surgery (IBS) in patients with renal transplants are largely undescribed. This study evaluated perioperative and long-term outcomes of IBS using autogenous and prosthetic conduits in a large population-based cohort of renal transplantation patients.

A retrospective review of all renal transplantation patients who underwent IBS between January 2007 and December 2011 in the United States Renal Data System was performed. Univariable, Kaplan-Meier, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression analyses were employed to evaluate 30-day postoperative (graft failure, limb loss, conduit infection, and death) and long-term (primary patency, primary assisted patency, secondary patency, limb salvage, and mortality) outcomes.

There were 1048 IBSs performed (autogenous, 68%; prosthetic, 32%), predominantly for critical limb ischemia (70%). Of these, 480 (46%) were femoral-popliteal, 330 (31%) were femoral-tibial, and 238 (23%) were popliteal-tibial bypasses. Comparing autogenous vs prosthetic conduits, primary patency was 33% vs 28% (P = .22), primary assisted patency was 38% vs 31% (P = .13), secondary patency was 48% vs 53% (P = .67), limb salvage was 53% vs 63% (P = .73), and patient survival was 47% vs 51% (P = .88), all at 5 years. Risk-adjusted analyses demonstrated higher primary assisted patency (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.66; P = .012), secondary patency (aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.74; P = .034), and limb salvage (aHR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.02-1.80; P = .037) for autogenous compared with prosthetic bypasses. There was no difference in mortality of patients who received autogenous vs prosthetic conduits.

We have presented postoperative and long-term outcomes of IBS in renal transplantation patients. Autogenous bypasses outperform prosthetics with regard to primary assisted patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage. Given the modest survival advantage conferred by renal transplantation, maximum efforts should be made to create bypasses with autogenous conduits when it is feasible. These results should inform the patient's and surgeon's expectations in planning of IBS for these patients.