Axillofemoral bypass with externally supported, knitted Dacron grafts: a follow-up through twelve years

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with externally supported, knitted Dacron grafts used for axillofemoral bypass.

Retrospective analysis was performed on records of 79 consecutive axillofemoral bypass graft operations performed on 77 patients from January 1978 to April 1990.

The mortality rate within 30 days of operation was 5% (four of 79); 36 patients died in the follow-up period; none died of graft causes. During this 12-year period (mean follow-up 42 months) three patients were unavailable for follow-up. The primary patency rate was 78% at 5 years and 73% at 7 years, with no change thereafter. Neither the graft configuration (i.e., axillounifemoral [n = 50] vs axillobifemoral [n = 29]) nor patency of the superficial femoral artery had an impact on the primary patency rate. Patients who underwent surgery for disabling claudication (n = 30 grafts) had a primary patency rate of 80% at 6 years compared with 65% at 6 years for those who required surgery for limb salvage (n = 49 grafts); the difference was not significant (p = 0.37). Actuarial survival of patients with axillofemoral grafts was 23% at 10 years compared with 72% in a concurrent population of patients with aortofemoral bypass (p < 0.001).

These findings indicate that axillofemoral bypass grafts may be appropriate for high-risk patients with severe aortoiliac disease who require revascularization for either limb salvage or incapacitating claudication.