Early postoperative thrombosis: a risk factor in lower limb revascularization?

The series here reported consists of 281 reconstructive vascular procedures for lower limb ischemia. In 18 cases (6.4%) early thrombosis required a secondary repair. The reason for thrombosis was poor outflow in 10 cases, inadequate inflow in 2, missed intimal flap in distal artery in 1. In 5 patients no specific cause was found. Immediate patency was achieved in 11 cases (61.1%). There were 1 operative death and 3 amputations. Long term results were disappointing in the poor outflow group where a high percentage of obstructions and amputations occurred. In patients with inadequate inflow and missed intimal flap, on the contrary, long term results showed no difference in comparison with patients whose postoperative period was uneventful.