Femorofemoral bypass: prognostic factors.

During a 17-year period, femorofemoral bypass grafting was performed on 85 patients as the primary operation for unilateral iliac artery disease. Of these patients, 53 (62%) were operated on for claudication and 32 (38%) for limb salvage. There were two operative deaths (2.4%). The 5-year cumulative graft patency rate was 63.2%, and the limb salvage rate was 70%. Prognostic factors included poor runoff and distal disease, donor iliac artery stenosis prior to femorofemoral bypass grafting, and progression of disease in the donor vessel following surgery. Definitive surgical correction is safe and effective with good long-term results.