[Long-term results of revascularization surgery in oblitertive arteriosclerosis of the lower extremities]

The authors evaluated their 15-year experience with revascularization operations for atherosclerosis obliterans (ASO) of the lower extremities. Over the period from 1975 to 1990, 1112 patients with ASO were admitted to their department and in 674 (60.6%) of them revascularization operation was performed. Direct revascularization surgery (bypass, desobliteration, angioplasty) was performed in 318 (47.2%) patients and indirect revascularization, sympathectomy in 326 (52.8%) patients. On evaluating the long-term results of aortobifemoral (AF2), femoropopliteal (FP) and femorocrural (FC) bypasses the following long-term patency was established: AF2 bypass--patency up to 2 years 92%, up to 5 years 90%, up to 10 years 76%, up to 15 years 75%; FP bypass--patency up to 2 years 90%, up to 5 years 84%, up to 10 years 62%, up to 15 years 46%; FC bypass--patency up to 2 years 63%, up to 5 years 50%, up to 10 years 25%. Complications developed in 10%, the mortality rate was 2.5% and 8% in FP and AF2, respectively. The obtained results are comparable with the data published in the literature. The authors achieved the best results in the suprainguinal region with AF2 bypasses on using mostly dacron prostheses and in the infrainguinal region FP bypasses on using the autologous great saphenous vein. (Tab. 3, Fig. 4, Ref. 17.)