Outcomes and resource utilization in a managed care setting for lower extremity vein bypass grafts

This 17-year review was undertaken to examine clinical outcomes and the changing trends in resource utilization for lower extremity bypass grafts performed in a managed care setting.

Between 1979 and 1995, 338 bypasses in 276 patients (199 men, 77 women; 62% diabetics) were carried out for limb salvage. Autogenous vein bypasses (AVB) were performed in 324 (96%) of the cases, which included 150 (43%) femoropopliteal (FP) and 174 (57%) femoro-tibial (FT) bypasses. There were 32 secondary AVB reconstructions included in the study group.

The 30-day mortality rate was 2.2% and patient survival was 46% and 21% at 5 and 10 years. At 1 and 5 years, primary patency rates for the AVB were 87% and 79% for FP; 80% and 67% for FT AVB, whereas the limb salvage rates at those intervals were 96% and 94% for FP; 87% and 77% for FT, respectively. Despite an average annual inflation rate of 8%, significant reductions in hospital charges were noted during the study period. These were made possible by decreasing lengths of hospital stay, the development and application of guidelines and protocols for the management of leg ischemia, and the implementation of angioscopy for improving the surgical technique for in situ AVB.

High-quality outcomes for lower extremity AVB are possible in a managed care setting with demonstrated improvements in the efficiency of resource utilization.