Local complications after arterial bypass grafting

• Published in: Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 127 - 131
• Main Authors: Campbell, W B, Tambeur, L J, Geens, V R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal College of Surgeons of England 01.03.1994
• Subjects: Amputation; Aorta, Abdominal - surgery; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - surgery; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Femoral Artery - surgery; Graft Occlusion, Vascular; Hemorrhage; Humans; Iliac Artery - surgery; Medical Audit; Popliteal Artery - surgery; Postoperative Complications; Prospective Studies; Surgical Wound Dehiscence; Surgical Wound Infection; Tibial Arteries - surgery; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0035-8843; 1478-7083

We have documented prospectively the problems occurring after 496 arterial bypass grafts (149 aortoiliac, 238 femorodistal, 65 extra-anatomic, and 44 others) implanted during the period 1987 to 1991 in a district general hospital. Postoperative bleeding occurred early in 14 (2.8%), and later (because of infection) in 3 (0.6%). Early graft occlusion (< 30 days) was seen in 2.9% aortofemoral, 10.4% femoropopliteal, and 25.3% femorotibial grafts, and amputation was required after 6.9% grafts. Wound problems were most common after femorotibial bypass--weeping of fluid in 3% and dehiscence or infection in 13.9%. Lymphatic collections occurred after 1.2% operations involving groin incisions. Graft sepsis was usually late, affecting 6% aortofemoral, 2.9% femorodistal, and 7.7% extra-anatomic grafts, but no intra-abdominal aortic grafts. These figures are probably representative of the complication rates seen by many surgeons and serve as an example for comparison and criticism.