DISTAL BYPASS FOR LIMB SALVAGE - COMPARATIVE-STUDY IN PATIENTS BELOW AND ABOVE 80 YEARS OF AGE

Revascularization for chronic lower extremity ischemia in patients of 80 years and older is controversial. To better define operative risk a nd outcome after peripheral vascular procedures in the elderly, our ex perience from January 1990 to December 1992 was reviewed, We compared two groups of patients: group I with 26 patients (28 revascularization s) 80 years of age and older (84 +/- 3 years) and group II with 29 pat ients (32 revascularizations) younger than 80 years (70 +/- 8 year), T he two groups were similar with regard to risk factors, surgical indic ation (rest pain and/or gangrene) and type of graft (in situ vein: 35, reversed vein: 12, PTFE: 13). Fourteen femoro-popliteal bypasses, 17 femoro-tibial bypasses (8 to the anterior tibial artery and 3 to the p osterior tibial artery) and 29 femoro-peroneal bypasses were performed , The operative mortality rate was 11.5% in group I and 6.9% in group II. The cumulative life-table survival rate at 24 months was 39.5% in group I and 55% in group II. Primary patency rate at 24 months was 64% in group I and 67% in group II. Secondary patency rate at 24 months w as 74.5% in group I and 73% in group II, Limb salvage at 24 months was 80% in group I and 83% in group II. Comparison of the older and young er groups showed no statistically significant difference in mortality rate, graft patency and limb salvage, Operative mortality and graft pa tency were not different with regard to age of patients.