Preservation of arm veins for arterial reconstruction.

The results of surgery for lower extremity salvage have improved steadily over the past decade. One of the principles accounting for this advance is the preferential use of autogenous veins for peripheral bypass surgery. Nonautogenous and prosthetic grafts to the infrageniculate (below knee) level have patency rates significantly lower than autogenous bypasses. Currently, the technical limits of bypass surgery often depend upon the availability of adequate venous conduits. The saphenous vein has been the conduit of choice for distal arterial bypasses. However, some patients lack saphenous veins as a result of previous vein harvesting for coronary or other arterial surgery, phlebitis, variations in venous anatomy, previous vein stripping, or other conditions. In these patients, arm veins (cephalic and basilic) have been used successfully for limb salvage. There are several requirements for the successful use of arm veins. These include a detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the cephalic and basilic veins, education of patients and health care professionals, nursing protocols to preserve arm veins, and the training of surgical nurses in the demanding technical maneuvers for arm vein implantation. This paper will address these subjects.