Bypass Surgery for Lower Extremity Artery Disease: Quality Assessment of Outcome, Ultrasound Surveillance,and Follow-up

Abstract: Introduction Bypass surgery for infrainguinal disease is indicated when a patient presents with chronic (disabling claudication or chronic limb-threatening ischaemia) or acute ischemia. Duplex ultrasound surveillance can be used in the follow-up period to detect grafts in risk of failure. If detected before occlusion occurs an intervention can prolong patency. Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of the procedure, whether there are factors associated with no improvement, and to elucidate the value of routine ultrasound surveillance. Methods Patients who underwent lower extremity bypass surgery at Falu hospital between 2010 and 2020 were identified from the national registry Swedvasc. Clinical outcome was based on change in the Rutherford classification. Duplex ultrasound measured peak systolic velocities. A significant stenosis was defined as a 2-3.5-fold increase in ratio of adjacent velocities in the bypass. For a non-significant stenosis, the ratio had to be increased but by less than 2 times. Results 114 patients underwent bypass surgery. Mean age was 70 years. Postoperative surveillance was carried out for 78 patients. Of these, 40 (51.3%) presented with an abnormality and further 30 of them (75%) received further intervention. There was a correlation between cardiac risk and outcome at the 30-day follow-up. For the majority of the not-surveilled, a major adverse event occurred within 1 year. Conclusions Bypass surgery was beneficial for the majority. Cardiac risk was a negative predictor for outcome. Most patients attending the surveillance benefited from early detection of risk of graft failure. To improve its value and efficacy, guidelines are needed within the clinic.