A comparison of distal end-to-side and end-to-end anastomoses in femoropopliteal bypasses

Objectives: to compare end-to-side (ETS) and end-to-end (ETE) distal anasto moses. Design: retrospective cohort study. Methods: retrospective cohort study. Between 1988 and 1992, 204 femoropopli teal bypasses (188 patients) were performed for claudication (55%), rest pa in (22%) and tissue loss (23%). One hundred and eighteen ETS were compared with 86 ETE in terms of patency or a mean (range) follow-up of 68 (0.5-120) months. Results: overall patency was 86%, 66% and 57% at 1, 5 and 8 years, respecti vely. Multivariate analysis showed ETE anastomoses (p = 0.04), and also kne e bypass (p = 0.05) and venous conduit (p = 0.004) to be significantly asso ciated with impaired patency. Conclusions: ETE may improve femoropopliteal bypass patency.