Current status of vascular grafting in supraaortic trunks. Personal experience.

Two-hundred forty-nine patients underwent prosthesis implantation for supraaortic trunk disease. The most frequently used technique for lesions of the innominate artery was direct repair via sternotomy. Mortality was very low (2.8%) and at 97.3% late patency was excellent (mean follow-up: six years). Extra-anatomical bypasses were reserved for all other lesions of the subclavian and common carotid arteries or contraindications to the direct approach. Patency for carotido-subclavian bypass (81 patients) and subclavio-subclavian bypass (134 patients) was 71% (mean follow-up: 4.6 years) with one operative death. Indications are decided on the basis of the extent and aspect of the lesions.