Limb salvage procedures for chronic lower limb ischemia

152 limb salvage arterial reconstructions were done for patients with critical ischemia. They included 43 aortailiac, 82 infrainguinal and 15 simultaneous aortailiac and infrainguinal reconstructive procedures as well as 12 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties [PTA]. In aortailiac occlusive disease extraanotomic bypasses were reserved to patients who have a high anaesthetic risk. For infrainguinal bypasses the saphenous vein [reversed or in situ] was the ideal bypass and was used in 83.75 percent. The early mortality rate 7.9 percent and one year patency and salvage rates of 60.6 percent and 65.1 percent respectively were acceptable