BACKGROUND: Arterialisation of the great saphenous vein has been suggested to improve distal circulation in patients with critical leg ischaemia not accessible for reconstructive surgery. As the technique has been a matter of controversy the aim was to assess the outcome of a series of own patients treated with arterialisation and compare them with conservatively treated patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a retrospective cohort study. SETTING: an academic referral centre (Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital) together with a district hospital (Peijas-Rekola Hospital). PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: 14 consecutive patients with critical leg ischaemia treated with arterialisation of the great saphenous vein in the district hospital were compared with 14 age, sex, diabetes and symptom severity-matched controls with critical leg ischaemia treated conservatively in the academic referral centre. MEASURES: major amputations and patient survival. RESULTS: The leg salvage rate was 57% at one year in the arterialisation group and 54% in the conservative group (NS) but the survival rate at one year was 92% in the operative group and 64% in the control group (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Arterialisation did not have any effect on leg salvage. The results of this study do not support the use of arterialisation as a treatment for critical leg ischaemia
BACKGROUND: Arterialisation of the great saphenous vein has been suggested to improve distal circulation in patients with critical leg ischaemia not accessible for reconstructive surgery. As the technique has been a matter of controversy the aim was to assess the outcome of a series of own patients treated with arterialisation and compare them with conservatively treated patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: a retrospective cohort study. SETTING: an academic referral centre (Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital) together with a district hospital (Peijas-Rekola Hospital). PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: 14 consecutive patients with critical leg ischaemia treated with arterialisation of the great saphenous vein in the district hospital were compared with 14 age, sex, diabetes and symptom severity-matched controls with critical leg ischaemia treated conservatively in the academic referral centre. MEASURES: major amputations and patient survival. RESULTS: The leg salvage rate was 57% at one year in the arterialisation group and 54% in the conservative group (NS) but the survival rate at one year was 92% in the operative group and 64% in the control group (NS). CONCLUSIONS: Arterialisation did not have any effect on leg salvage. The results of this study do not support the use of arterialisation as a treatment for critical leg ischaemia
Authors: Gaia Spinetti; Carlo Maria Ferdinando Caravaggi; Andrea Panunzi; Fabiana Madotto; Elena Sangalli; Federica Riccio; Adriana Barbara Sganzaroli; Paolo Galenda; Amelia Bertulessi; Maria Francesca Barmina; Ornella Ludovico; Orazio Fortunato; Francesco Setacci; Flavio Airoldi; Davide Tavano; Laura Giurato; Marco Meloni; Luigi Uccioli; Antonino Bruno Journal: Cardiovasc Diabetol Date: 2022-09-28 Impact factor: 8.949