Retroperitoneal inflow procedures for iliac occlusive vascular disease

We reviewed our experience over the past six years with retroperitoneal inflow procedures (aortofemoral and iliofemoral bypass grafts) in high-risk patients with aortoiliac occlusive disease. There were 57 limbs in 40 patients. Twenty percent of the patients were diabetic, 80% were smokers, 40% had heart disease, 54% had hypertension, and 25% had symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The average patient age was 64 years. There was no operative mortality and cumulative patency rate by life-table analysis at four years was 84%. The site of the proximal anastomosis (aorta vs iliac) or the configuration of the graft (unifemoral vs bifemoral) did not influence the patency rate. Retroperitoneal inflow procedures are an excellent alternative in patients who present an unacceptably high risk for standard aortofemoral reconstruction.