LONG-TERM OF PATIENTS RECEIVING AN AORTO-BI-FEMORAL PROSTHESIS FOR ATHEROSCLEROTIC OCCLUSIVE DISEASE OF THE AORTIC BIFURCATION

Over a 14-year period (1975-1989), 547 patients with a mean age of 57 years received an aorto-bi-femoral prosthesis for atherosclerotic occl usive disease (AOD) and underwent regular follow-up over a 13-year per iod. Immediate post-operative mortality was 2.5% with few deaths due t o cardiovascular causes (0.5%). The longterm mortality was significant ly elevated at 5 years (10% higher than controls) and at 10 years (16% ). These deaths were due to the AOD and its surgical treatment (10%), other cardiovascular disease (30%) and cancer (41%). Approximately 5% of patients required an immediate postoperative, or delayed amputation , compared to 33% which had a threatened limb before the operation. Th rombosis of the prosthesis was relatively rare. At 5 years, 81% of the survivors remained largely improved; at 10 years, 67% and at 13 years , 62%. The benefit of this intervention is therefore unquestionable wi th regards to the functional state and survival. Also, in avoiding imm obility due to the disabling intermittent claudication or amputation, it considerably improves the quality of life which largely compensates for the low mortality rates and seubsequent complications of the pros thesis.