Vascular reconstruction in limb salvage operations for soft tissue tumors of the extremities

Eight patients with vascular threatening soft tissue tumors underwent wide excision of the tumors followed by vascular reconstruction. Superficial femoral vessels were resected in 6 patients and popliteal vessels in 2 patients. Arterial reconstruction was performed with a synthetic graft in 4 and a reversed saphenous vein graft in 4. Venous reconstruction was performed with a synthetic graft in 5 and a saphenous vein graft in 2. Adjuvant multimodality treatment was used in 6 patients. After an average of 30 months, the revascularized vessels were found to be patent in 5 patients with arterial reconstruction and in 1 patient with venous reconstruction. Six patients maintained functional extremities. Two other patients had to have amputations, 1 because of a deep infection that involved the grafts and the other because of an acute occlusion of the reconstructed artery. Edema of the leg, which was treated successfully with an elastic support and elevation of the leg, has been observed in all patients after operation. No local recurrence has been observed with an average followup period of 42.5 months. Pulmonary metastasis developed in 2 patients, and 1 of them underwent a pulmonary metastasectomy. Limb salvage in vascular threatening soft tissue tumors using vascular reconstruction techniques is useful and preferable in some patients.