Femoropopliteal bypass grafting: predictive value of preoperative angiography

Our experience with femoropopliteal grafting was reviewed to determine whether quantitative grading of the preoperative angiogram could be correlated with the outcome of the grafting procedure. The series consisted of 53 bypass grafts in 50 patients. The quantitative grading of the preoperative arteriogram correlated with the graft closure rate during the follow-up period of 48 months. The group with the most advanced arterial occlusive disease on angiography had a 32 per cent failure rate, while those with the least severe disease had a 6.7 per cent failure rate. The intermediate group had a 16.7 per cent closure rate. Using linear regression analysis, the data indicated a correlation between the time of graft failure in the first 18 months and the angiographic grade (p less than 0.01).