Femorofemoral bypass grafting in high-risk patients

A total of 37 extra-anatomic femorofemoral bypasses were inserted for severe unilateral iliac artery stenosis or a thrombosed graft limb of an aorto-bifemoral bifurcation graft. All patients were severely debilitated and at high risk for direct aorto-iliac reconstruction. 30% suffered severe claudication; 70% had ischemic restpain or trophic lesions. 43% died during a mean follow-up period of 17 months. This study demonstrates that the extra-anatomic femoro-femoral bypass procedure is an effective alternative therapeutic modality for high-risk patients with an acceptable operative mortality (5.4%) and morbidity to improve the quality of life.