Lower Extremity Bypass Using Bovine Carotid Artery Graft (Artegraft): An Analysis of 124 Cases with Long-Term Results.

INTRODUCTION: Although biological grafts have been utilized as a vascular conduit in leg bypass for many years, reports of a bovine carotid artery graft (BCAG) in lower extremity revascularization have been scarce. This study analyzed the outcome of lower leg bypass using BCAG. METHODS: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database of all patients undergoing lower extremity bypass using BCAG from 2002 to 2017 was performed. Clinical outcomes including graft patency and limb salvage were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 124 BCAG (Artegraft, North Brunswick, NJ) were implanted in 120 patients for lower extremity revascularization. Surgical indications included disabling claudication in 12%, rest pain in 36%, tissue loss in 48%, and infected prosthetic graft replacement in 3%. Autologous saphenous vein was either inadequate or absent in 72% of patients. BCAG was used in 46 patients (37%) who had a prior failed ipsilateral leg bypass. Distal anastomosis was performed in the above-knee popliteal artery, below-knee popliteal artery, and tibial artery in 30 cases (25%), 32 cases (26%), and 48 cases (39%), respectively. Distal anastomotic patch was created in all tibial artery to allow BCAG-tibial reconstruction. The yearly primary patency rates in 5 years were 86.5, 76.4, 72.2, 68.3, and 67.5%, respectively. The corresponding yearly secondary patency rates were 88.5, 84.7, 82.4, 78.5, and 75.6%, respectively. The limb salvage rate at one year was 83.6% and at five years was 86.2% for patients with critical limb ischemia. Multivariate analysis showed poor runoff score (P = 0.03, 95% CI, 1.3-5.3; OR, 1.6) was independently associated with graft occlusion. CONCLUSION: BCAG is an excellent vascular conduit and provides good long-term results in lower extremity bypass.

Thromboembolic Risk of Endovascular Intervention for Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the risk of thromboembolism during endovascular interventions in patients with symptomatic lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) METHODS: Clinical records of all patients who underwent endovascular interventions for symptomatic lower extremity DVT from 2001 to 2017 were retrospectively analyzed using a prospectively maintained database. Only patients who received an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter were included in the analysis. Trapped intrafilter thrombus was assessed for procedure-related thromboembolism. Clinical outcomes of thrombus management and thromboembolism risk were analyzed. RESULTS: A total 172 patients (mean age 57.4 years, 98 females) who underwent 174 endovascular DVT interventions were included in the analysis. Treatment strategies included thrombolytic therapy (64%), mechanical thrombectomy (n = 86%), pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (51%), balloon angioplasty (98%), and stent placement (28%). Thrombectomy device used included AngioJet (56%), Trellis (19%), and Aspire (11%). Trapped IVC filter thrombus was identified in 58 patients (38%) based on the IVC venogram. No patient developed clinically evident pulmonary embolism (PE). IVC filter retrieval was performed in 98 patients (56%, mean 11.8 months after implantation). Multivariate analysis showed that iliac vein occlusion (P = 0.04) was predictive for procedure-related thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: Iliac vein thrombotic occlusion is associated with an increased thromboembolic risk in DVT intervention. Retrievable IVC filter should be considered when performing percutaneous thrombectomy in patients with iliac venous occlusion to prevent PE.