Popliteal-to-distal bypass grafts for limb salvage in diabetics.

Between January 1984 and August 1989, 117 diabetic patients with a palpable popliteal pulse but distal limb threatening ischaemia underwent 124 popliteal artery (or below) to distal bypass grafts. All grafts were intra-operatively monitored. The operative mortality was 0.8% and the 30 day primary patency 93%. Primary patencies at 1 and 3 years were 88.6 and 85.2%, respectively. The results of using the popliteal artery as the proximal graft inflow site in diabetes are comparable to other patient groups and to alternative more proximal inflow sites, but require a shorter length of vein graft with a shorter vein harvesting incision, avoid groin disection and result in a more peripheral operation.