Alternative approaches to the deep femoral, popliteal, and infrapopliteal arteries in the leg and foot: Part I

Results of Infrageniculate Bypasses Using the Profunda Femoris Artery as Inflow Source

BACKGROUND

When the common femoral artery is not accessible for infrainguinal bypass grafting, the profunda femoris artery (PFA) can be a valuable alternative inflow source for distal arterial revascularization. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of infrageniculate bypass grafting via the PFA as inflow source for critical limb ischemia.

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2016, 68 patients, 51 men of a mean age of 74 years, underwent an infrageniculate arterial bypass grafting for critical limb ischemia, using the PFA as inflow site. PFA was exposed at the Scarpa's triangle in 38 patients (56%) and at its medio-crural segment in 30 patients (44%). The distal anastomosis was performed on the infragenicular popliteal artery in 33 patients (48%), the peroneal artery in 14 patients (20%), the tibioperoneal trunk in 8 patients (12%), the posterior tibial artery in 8 patients (12%), and the dorsalis pedis artery in 5 patients (8%). The graft material consisted of a reversed great saphenous vein (GSV) in 62 patients (91%) and a 6-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft in 6 patients (9%). The median duration of follow-up was 51 months (range, 6-72 months). As main results, postoperative mortality and morbidity, overall late patients' survival, primary grafts' patency, and limb salvage rate were considered.

RESULTS

Operative mortality and morbidity were 3% and 4%, respectively. Overall patients' survival, primary patency and limb salvage rate, at 36 and 60 months were, respectively, 62% and 53%, 66% and 59%, and 92% and 77%.

CONCLUSIONS

The PFA, both exposed at the Scarpa's triangle and at mid-thigh, is an excellent inflow source for infrageniculate revascularizations. It should remain an important part of the technical armamentarium of vascular surgeons, even in the endovascular era.

Unusual surgical exposures to avoid scarred or infected standard access routes to the common femoral, deep femoral, and popliteal arteries

Standard approaches to lower extremity arteries may be rendered difficult or unusable because of scarring or infection, or both. This article describes unusual alternative approaches to facilitate lower extremity bypasses that would normally require approaches to the common femoral, deep femoral, or popliteal arteries. Techniques are described for using the distal external iliac artery, the distal two-thirds of the deep femoral artery, and the above-knee and below-knee popliteal artery approached laterally.

Value of the deep femoral artery as alternative inflow source in infrainguinal bypass surgery

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term results of infrainguinal bypass surgery using the deep femoral artery (DFA) as the inflow source.

METHODS

Between 1998 and 2011, 88 bypasses of the lower limb were placed in 86 patients (mean age 71 years) using the deep femoral artery as inflow. Patients' records were retrieved from a computerized database and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Critical limb ischemia (rest pain/tissue loss) was the indication in the majority (87.5%) of cases. The distal anastomosis of the bypass grafts was located at the popliteal level in 32 cases and the tibial (pedal) level in 52 cases, respectively, with the autologous vein as conduit in 94% of cases. Perioperative mortality was 2.3% and 77 patients (79 limbs) were followed over a mean period of 48 months. Overall primary, primary assisted, and secondary patency rates of 64.2%, 74.9%, and 92.3% were noted at 60 months, respectively. The limb salvage rate was 97%, with an overall survival of 48.7% at 60 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The deep femoral artery can serve as reliable inflow source for infrainguinal bypass surgery in difficult situations like redo groin surgery, limited conduit length, and circumferential nonobstructive calcification of the common femoral artery.

The deep femoral artery, a readily available inflow vessel for lower limb revascularization: a single-center experience

The deep femoral artery (DFA) offers several advantages as an inflow vessel in lower-extremity bypasses. We report a single-center experience using the DFA as an inflow artery for lower-extremity revascularization. We reviewed all patients who underwent a lower-extremity bypass utilizing the DFA as the inflow vessel. Demographics, indications for surgery, indication for use of the DFA, type of conduits and target vessels were recorded. Follow-up data included resolution of symptoms, bypass graft patency, major amputations and survival. Over 2.5 years, 23 patients were treated with a DFA-inflow bypass. Eighteen (78%) suffered from wounds and five (22%) from rest pain. The proximal, middle and distal DFA was used in 8, 14 and 1 patients, respectively. Indications for using the DFA were limited vein conduit (16) and a hostile groin (5). All patients experienced initial resolution of their ischemic symptoms. The primary patency at two years was 93%. The survival rate was 83%. In conclusion, the DFA is an excellent and underutilized alternative inflow artery in patients requiring lower limb revascularization. It offers excellent patency rates and should be considered in patients with hostile groins or insufficient lengths of a vein conduit.

The distal zone of the deep femoral artery as the inflow site in femorodistal bypass grafting

The distal zone of the deep femoral artery has been used as an inflow site for femorodistal bypass grafts. Eleven such bypass grafts were performed in patients who had critical limb ischemia either to avoid a hostile groin (n=7) or because of an insufficient length of vein (n=4). The posteromedial route was used. Two of the 11 grafts had early failure and a third failed at 3 months: redo surgery restored arterial blood flow to the limb in all three patients. The procedure was safe and is a widely applicable, effective alternative that extends the limits of infrainguinal vein bypass grafting.

Infections in lower extremity vascular grafts

No set of rigid guidelines can replace a clinically rational and methodic approach to the patient with an infrainguinal graft infection. Some fundamental principles are common to infrainguinal graft infections that form the basis for selective management: 1. Graft preservation can be attempted when the graft is patent, the anastomosis is intact, and the patient is not septic. 2. Graft excision is mandatory when the patient presents with a thrombosed infected graft, anastomotic or graft hemorrhage, or significant systemic sepsis. 3. Graft preservation can be attempted in both vein and PTFE grafts but is not advised for Dacron grafts. This approach should be tempered by the extent and virulence of the underlying infection, especially when Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the pathologic organism. 4. Delayed hemorrhage and continued systemic sepsis represent early failures of graft preservation and mandate graft excision. 5. Revascularization may be accomplished through the infected bed, but it is generally prudent to proceed with extra-anatomic reconstruction utilizing alternative approaches to inflow and outflow vessels.