Infrainguinal reconstruction for patients with chronic renal insufficiency

The efficacy of autogenous infrainguinal reconstruction for patients with varying degrees of chronic renal insufficiency was reviewed because it has not been well defined.

Pertinent data were retrieved from hospital records and the vascular registry for all patients with chronic renal insufficiency (serum creatine > 2 mg/dl) who required surgical intervention for ischemic lower limbs during the past 15 years at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

During the past 15 years, 56 patients underwent 70 autogenous vein bypass procedures, and 31 underwent 42 primary major amputations. All patients had serum creatinine levels greater than 2 mg/dl. Limb salvage was the indication for intervention in 84% of reconstructed limbs, and 48% required infrapopliteal bypass. No significant difference was found in the operative mortality rate associated with primary amputation (17%) and reconstruction (11%), but overall 5-year survival for the group undergoing reconstruction (40%) was significantly superior to that observed in the group undergoing amputation (9%). The 5-year cumulative limb salvage rate for the group having reconstruction was 80%, with a primary graft patency of 74% and a secondary patency of 77%. Patients with diabetes had lower rates of both limb salvage (63%) and survival (21%). No patient on dialysis survived beyond the third-year interval, but the limb salvage rate after 2 years was 76%.

Patients with chronic renal insufficiency achieved graft patency and limb salvage results comparable to those obtained in patients with normal kidney function, but they sustained higher perioperative morbidity and reduced survival.