1. The elderly patient with severe arterial insufficiency of the lower extremity: limb salvage by femoro-popliteal reconstruction.
- Author
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Reichle FA, Rankin KP, Tyson RR, Shuman CR, and Finestone AJ
- Subjects
- Age Factors, Aged, Amputation, Surgical mortality, Arteriosclerosis complications, Arteriosclerosis diagnosis, Femoral Artery diagnostic imaging, Humans, Intermittent Claudication diagnosis, Intermittent Claudication surgery, Ischemia diagnosis, Ischemia mortality, Middle Aged, Popliteal Artery diagnostic imaging, Postoperative Complications mortality, Radiography, Retrospective Studies, Saphenous Vein, Transplantation, Autologous, Arteriosclerosis surgery, Blood Vessel Prosthesis, Femoral Artery surgery, Ischemia surgery, Leg blood supply, Popliteal Artery surgery, Veins transplantation
- Abstract
To determine the feasibility of limb salvage in elderly patients in whom severe ischemia of the lower extremity is present, the results of femoro-popliteal reconstruction done primarily for limb salvage were reviewed. Of 310 femoro-popliteal bypasses, 72 were performed on patients 70 years of age or older. In the over-70 group, ischemic necrosis was present in 70.8% rest pain in 22.2%, and claudication in 7.0%. Initial limb salvage patients 70 years of age or older was 71.4%. Cumulative limb salvage at 5 years was 51.1% and at 10 years was 44.8%. Operative mortality, including mortality of subsequent amputation, when required, was 8.3%. Appreciable limb salvage can be achieved by femoro-popliteal arterial reconstruction in lieu of primary amputation in elderly patients in whom severe arterial insufficiency of the lower extremity is present.
- Published
- 1979
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