Impact of preoperative arterial stiffness index on graft patency following peripheral arterial bypass surgery.

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative Arterial Stiffness Index (ASI) values on primary graft patency following peripheral arterial bypass surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 92 patients who underwent femoro-popliteal bypass surgery between January 2019 and November 2024. Preoperative ASI values were measured using the Vasolab 5000 device. Patients were divided into two groups based on an ASI cut-off value of 10.0. Primary graft patency rates, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and multivariate Cox regression were performed to assess the relationship between ASI and graft outcomes.

RESULTS

Patients with ASI >10.0 exhibited significantly lower 12-month primary graft patency rates compared to those with ASI ⩽10.0 (61.9% vs 88.0%, p = 0.008). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified high ASI as an independent predictor of graft failure (HR: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.15-4.03; p = 0.016), along with diabetes mellitus and the use of synthetic graft material.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative ASI values are independently associated with primary graft patency after peripheral arterial bypass surgery. Arterial stiffness assessment may serve as a useful non-invasive tool for risk stratification in vascular surgery candidates.