Axillofemoral bypass. A 2-decade experience reviewed

A retrospective study of axillofemoral bypass performed at Groote Schuur Hospital over a period of 2 decades was undertaken to analyse the results and to re-examine current criteria for patient selection. During this period 109 patients underwent surgery. The primary indication was critical ischaemia (in 88% of cases). Operative mortality was 6,4%. Graft thrombosis and sepsis were identified as the major reasons for graft failure. Overall graft patency at 3 years was 43% and at 5 years 30%. Successful graft thrombectomy improved the overall cumulative patency rate at 5 years to 43%, and patient survival in the same period was 56%. Modern advances in the assessment of anaesthetic risk together with improved postoperative intensive care have allowed more patients who in the past would have been considered candidates for axillofemoral bypass to undergo direct aortic reconstruction. While the results of axillofemoral bypass are inferior to those of aortic grafts, the technique remains a valuable method of limb salvage for the poor-risk patient and a life-saving treatment for aortic graft sepsis.