Unilateral iliac disease: the role of iliofemoral bypass.

This article reviews our experience with iliofemoral bypass during the past 10 years to better define its role in the treatment of unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease. For 50 patients, the cumulative patency rate was 96% +/- 3% at 1 year and 92% +/- 5% at 2 and 3 years. The operation was most likely to be successful if the indication was claudication (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference when patients with or without profundaplasty were compared. It is concluded that iliofemoral bypass is a durable operation and indicated when transluminal dilatation is not possible and the common iliac artery is suitable as a source of inflow. When indicated, the procedure can be carried out safely for both high- and low-risk patients.