Outcomes of cold-stored venous allograft for below-knee bypasses in patients with critical limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVE

Critical limb ischemia (CLI), the most advanced form of peripheral arterial disease, is associated with strikingly high morbidity and mortality rates. Autogenous single-segment great saphenous vein (GSV) remains the optimal conduit for infrainguinal revascularization. Unfortunately, GSV is unavailable in up to 20% of patients. There is no consensus about the alternative graft that should be used for infragenicular bypass grafting when the GSV is unavailable. Currently, there are no outcome data for cold-stored venous allograft use in regard to recent safety and efficacy objective performance goals described by the Society for Vascular Surgery.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of 118 infragenicular revascularizations performed for CLI with cold-stored venous allografts obtained from varicose vein stripping surgery in a single institution from November 2002 to August 2013.

RESULTS

Mean age (± standard deviation) was 75 ± 12 years (male, 76%; diabetes, 73%; dialysis, 16%), and 38% (n = 45) had a history of failed ipsilateral revascularization. None had suitable autogenous conduit for even composite vein bypass. The distal anastomosis was performed to an infrapopliteal artery in 85 cases (72%). At 30 days, perioperative death rate was 6.8%, major adverse cardiovascular event rate was 7.6%, and major adverse limb event rate was 11.9%. Mean follow-up was 34 ± 29 months (range, 1-113 months). At 1 year, freedom from major adverse limb event or perioperative death, limb salvage, survival, amputation-free survival, and secondary patency rates were, respectively, 64.9%, 82.5%, 85.4%, 73.3%, and 58.3%. Ejection fraction <45% and dialysis were the most significant factors predicting failure of revascularization.

CONCLUSIONS

Cold-stored venous allografts may be used for performing infragenicular revascularization for CLI with acceptable safety and efficacy results despite poor long-term patency. Their level of performance remains inferior to autologous vein sources but seems comparable to alternative allografts or prosthetic conduit. Their availability is a major advantage compared with other biologic alternative sources.