Transobturator aorto-profunda femoral artery bypass using the direct medial thigh approach

We present a novel technique for aorto-profunda femoral artery bypass using both the obturator foramen and the direct medial thigh approach to the profunda femoral artery in a patient with an infected femoral graft and limb-threatening ischemia. This patient has undergone multiple bypass grafts to salvage function of his lower extremities, but these standard anatomic and extra-anatomic bypasses had failed because of graft infections. The technique as well as the surgical anatomy are described. The combination of the transobturator aorto-profunda femoral artery bypass and the direct medial approach to the profunda femoral artery is technically feasible, provides adequate outflow for limb salvage in selected patients with good collateral arteries, offers acceptable long-term patency, and is particularly useful when the groin is hostile to dissection or graft material and the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries are occluded.     

Infrascrotal, Perineal, Femorofemoral Bypass for Arterial Graft Infection at the Groin

HYPOTHESIS: Infrascrotal, perineal, femorofemoral bypass is an acceptable procedure for treating infection of a prosthetic arterial graft limited to a unilateral groin. DESIGN: A consecutive sample clinical study with a mean follow-up of 29 months. SETTING: The surgical department of an academic tertiary care center and an affiliated secondary care center. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients with a mean age of 68 years with prosthetic graft infection at the outflow anastomosis on a femoral artery at the Scarpa triangle underwent an infrascrotal, perineal, femorofemoral bypass, with excision of the graft material limited at the groin. The recipient artery was the profunda femoris artery in 12 cases, the superficial femoral in 5, and the distal common femoral artery in 2. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cumulative survival, recurrence of sepsis, primary graft patency, and limb salvage rates expressed by standard life-table analysis. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality rate was 5%. Cumulative (SE) survival rate was 65% (11.6%) at 3 years. Cumulative (SE) rate of freedom from recurrent sepsis was 88% (8.6%) at 3 years. Cumulative (SE) primary patency and limb salvage rates were 86% (9.4%) and 91% (7.9%), respectively, at 3 years. CONCLUSION: Femorofemoral bypass with an infrascrotal perineal approach is a valuable procedure for the treatment of femoral arterial graft infection limited at a unilateral groin.     

Outcomes in the management of vascular prosthetic graft infections confined to the groin: A reappraisal

The management of vascular prosthetic graft infections confined to the groin continues to be controversial. To critically evaluate this problem, we reviewed the records of our vascular registry from December 1992 through February 1995 and found 17 incidences of groin sepsis involving a vascular prosthesis in 10 patients. These included a proximal prosthetic femoropopliteal bypass (n=6), an aortobifemoral graft limb (n=5), an ileofemoral bypass (n=3), a prosthetic femoral patch (n = 2), and an aortofemoral/femorofemoral bypass (n=1). The mean age of these patients was 65 years. Six patients were diabetic, four were on systemic steroids, and two were diabetic and on steroids. All infections were Szilagyi grade III including three in which the patients presented with local hemorrhage. Treatment consisted of irrigation, radical debridement with or without in situ graft replacement, and local rotational muscle flap coverage in nine cases, graft excision with extra-anatomic (obturator ileofemoral bypass) graft replacement in six cases, and excision alone in two cases. Of the 17 infections treated operatively and followed from 1 week to 18 months (median 5 months), eight (47%) showed no evidence of recurrence, six (35%) recurred, two (12%) caused early death, and one resulted in a thrombosed graft requiring extra-anatomic reconstruction. Of the nine infected grafts treated locally with muscle flaps, six showed recurrent infection from 3 weeks to 15 months and one thrombosed for a total local treatment failure rate of 78%. Only two grafts are free of infection at 4 and 5 months, respectively. Of the six incidences of infection treated with obturator bypass, four (66%) are free of infection and two resulted in patient death; both infections treated with excision alone were eradicated but resulted in a major lower extremity amputation. These data question the growing acceptance of debridement and local muscle flap coverage for the treatment of all prosthetic vascular graft infections confined to the groin, especially in patients who are diabetic or on systemic steroids.Presented at the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, New Orleans, La., June 10, 1995.     

OBTURATOR FORAMEN BYPASS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFECTED PROSTHETIC VASCULAR GRAFTS

The obturator foramen bypass graft remains an excellent option for revascularking the lower extremity when dealing with an infected prosthetic vascular graft in the groin. In this series, six obturator foramen bypass grafts were performed in five patients for infectious groin complications following vascular surgery. Conservative measures such as local antibiotic irrigation and abscess drainage designed to preserve the graft in situ had failed to eradicate the infection in all instances and was complicated by suture-line haemorrhage in three instances. An aggressive approach should be adopted, aimed at excision of the infected graft. The obturator foramen bypass graft remains a durable graft for limb salvage. Five out of six obturator foramen bypass grafts were patent after 11–26 months follow up.     

Patency of superficial femoral vein employed as a crossover femoral artery bypass conduit

This study assesses the patency of superficial femoral vein used as a crossover femoral artery bypass conduit in patients presenting either with localized groin sepsis, generalized sepsis or in patients with occluded or heavily diseased superficial femoral artery outflow. Twenty patients were followed prospectively with femoral crossover grafts constructed of superficial femoral vein. Twelve patients presented with sepsis and 8 with chronic ischemia from iliac artery occlusion and severely diseased superficial femoral artery outflow. Graft patency was assessed with regular duplex ultrasound examination. There was one perioperative death. Six patients died during the follow-up period. Mean follow-up time was 24.3 months. No graft occluded or required revision. There was no limb loss, graft infection, or graft hemorrhage. Superficial femoral vein offers an effective femoral crossover bypass graft in patients with either localized/generalized sepsis or disadvantaged outflow tracts.     

Obturator foramen bypass for infected blocked groin graft - A case report

Limb revascularization is a challenging situation when groin graft gets infected. A young male patient aged 28 years who had road traffic accident with lacerated left external iliac artery was treated with ilio-femoral graft. Three months after he presented with infected, occluded illio- femoral graft with critical limb ischemia. He was successfully managed with antibiotics, illio-popliteal graft passed through obturator foramen. Infected graft was excised.Obturator bypass should be considered in case of infected groin graft.     

Conservative management of a methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected aortobifemoral graft: Report of a case

A 63-year-old man was referred to our department for treatment of intermittent claudication in the right lower limb. The preoperative angiogram showed severe stenosis extending from the terminal aorta to the bilateral common femoral arteries, with occlusion of the right superficial femoral artery and the left popliteal artery. He underwent aortobifemoral bypass with thromboendarterectomy of the left common femoral artery, and right graft-popliteal artery bypass. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course; however, 14 days after the operation, a pulsatile mass suddenly appeared in the left groin. Emergency surgery revealed disruption of the left distal anastomosis of the aortobifemoral bypass and therefore, revision, in the form of graft-profunda femoris artery interposition with graft-superficial femoral artery bypass, was performed. Microscopic examination showed colonies of bacteria in the host artery adventitia adjacent to the anastomosis. Culture of the discharge from the right groin operative scar revealed methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The discharge resolved following the intravenous administration of vancomycin and the local application of vancomycin ointment. There were no operative complications other than the MRSA infection, and the patient was discharged 20 days after revision surgery. In the 14 months since the revision, all grafts have remained patent and there have been no further symptoms of graft infection.     

Crossover iliofemoral bypass grafting for treatment of unilateral iliac atherosclerotic disease.

PURPOSE: In patients with unilateral iliac disease, a less invasive procedure than aortobifemoral bypass grafting may be desirable, especially in poor-risk patients or when sexual dysfunction is feared. In these cases, femorofemoral (FF) bypass grafting is often proposed. Compared with FF bypass grafting, iliofemoral (IF) bypass grafting avoids bilateral exposure of the groins, which may reduce the risk of infection. When the primitive iliac artery is occluded from its origin or heavily calcified, one may use the contralateral artery as inflow, after a small retroperitoneal exposure, to perform a crossover iliofemoral (CIF) bypass grafting procedure, through the Retzius space. Our 10-year experience with CIF bypass grafting in a select group of patients was studied. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1996, 36 patients underwent CIF bypass grafting for symptomatic unilateral iliac occlusion or stenosis. All patients were examined by means of Doppler ultrasound scanning and underwent bilateral multiplane angiography. Patients were considered for this procedure when the ipsilateral common iliac artery was occluded from its origin or was diffusely and heavily calcified. The decision to perform a CIF bypass grafting procedure was made when no significant disease of the contralateral common iliac artery was seen, and patients who had features of contralateral iliac disease were excluded. The main outcomes were perioperative mortality and morbidity, long-term primary and secondary patency rates, and limb salvage rate. RESULTS: The study included 31 men and five women, with a mean age of 58.8 years. Indications for bypass grafting were disabling claudication (26 of 36 patients, 72%) and limb-threatening ischemia (10 of 26 patients, 28%). Twelve procedures were performed simultaneously: endarterectomy of the recipient common femoral artery (n = 3), femoropopliteal bypass grafting (n = 4, 11.1%), profundoplasty (n = 4, 11%), and right internal carotid endarterectomy (n = 1). New postoperative erectile dysfunction did not develop in any of the patients. The survival rate was 97.3% at 1 year and 68.5% at 5 years. The primary and secondary patency rates were 94% and 100%, respectively, at 1 year and 76.7% and 95%, respectively, at 5 years. The limb salvage rate was 100% at 1 year and 87% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: The operative mortality associated with CIF is low. The long-term primary and secondary patency rates are satisfactory, and they are lower than those reported for aortobifemoral bypass grafting. This procedure does not preclude a later performance of an aortobifemoral bypass grafting procedure. CIF bypass grafting is not only suitable for poor-risk patients with a limited life expectancy who have the appropriate arterial anatomy, but also may be warranted for young patients in whom erectile dysfunction is feared.     

Contemporary outcomes of iliofemoral bypass grafting for unilateral aortoiliac occlusive disease: a 10-year experience

Current treatment of complex aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) includes the aortobifemoral bypass or the femoral-femoral bypass. However, because of bilateral groin exposure and associated risks, there is a significant morbidity associated with these procedures. In appropriate patients with unilateral AIOD, the iliofemoral bypass graft (IFBPG) via a lower abdominal retroperitoneal incision can be an acceptable alternative. The purpose of this study is to review the safety and efficacy as well as long-term outcomes of IFBPG in patients with unilateral AIOD. From July 1997 through June 2006, 40 patients (64.3 +/- 11.2-years-old, range 41-89-years-old, 57.5% critical limb ischemia, 70% male, 95% smokers) with unilateral AIOD were treated with IFBPG. Perioperative complications and symptom resolution were measured and Kaplan-Meier life table analysis was used to analyze outcomes of primary and secondary patency, survival, limb salvage, contralateral intervention, and maintenance of ambulation and independent living status. The perioperative complication rate was 12.5 per cent (n = 5) including one patient who developed atrial-fibrillation and one who developed acute renal failure. Both patients experienced resolution of these symptoms before discharge. Other complications included one limb thrombosis and two wound infections. There were no perioperative deaths. Secondary patency was 97.5 per cent and 93.3 per cent at 1 and 5 years. Limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) was 85.1 per cent and 79.1 per cent at 1 and 5 years. Limb amputation occurred due to infection (n = 2), or failed IFBPG (n = 2). Thirty-one patients (77.5%) experienced symptom resolution including 15 (88.2%) of the patients treated for claudication. Two patients (5%) required contralateral iliac intervention. Patient survival was 97.5 per cent and 64.5 per cent at 1 and 5 years. Greater than 90 per cent of patients maintained their functional independence at 5 years. IFBPG achieved excellent technical and functional outcomes, particularly in patients treated for vasculogenic claudication. This procedure is relatively safe and efficacious in a population of patients with complex unilateral AIOD and can be an acceptable alternative to the aortobifemoral bypass or fem-fem procedure.     

Femorofemoral bypass through the perineum for infection complicating arterial revascularization of the lower limb

Of 587 prosthetic arterial constructions performed between 1980 and 1984 on the aorta and lower limbs, 25 patients were operated on for sepsis. A total of 37 operations were performed, six of which were femorofemoral crossover bypasses through the perineum. Prosthetic material was used in one case and vein in five. The host vessel was the contralateral iliac or femoral artery, the contralateral limb of an aortobifemoral bypass, or the contralateral limb of an axillofemoral bypass in two cases each. The recipient vessel was the profunda femoris artery in four cases, the popliteal artery in one case, and the profunda femoris and popliteal arteries sequentially in one case. Indications for perineal bypass included an infected pseudoaneurysm in the femoral triangle following a femoropopliteal (one case) or aortofemoral bypass (five cases). In two instances, sepsis was bilateral and also required an axillofemoral bypass. Excepting one postoperative death, early results were satisfactory as infection disappeared and arterial reconstructions remained patent in all other cases. This technique should have its place in the armamentarium of extraanatomic bypasses along with other techniques such as the axillofemoral, prepublic femorofemoral crossover, and obturator bypasses. The best indication for perineal bypass is when vascularization of a lower limb from the contralateral side is necessary because of infection in the femoral triangle.     

Eighteen‐year experience with femoro‐femoral bypass

Background : The role of femoro‐femoral bypass in the management of aorto‐iliac occlusive disease has evolved during the past two decades. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the early and long‐term outcomes of femoro‐femoral bypass grafts performed at the University of Hong Kong Medical Centre during an 18‐year period. Methods : From 1981 to 1998, a retrospective analysis of 61 patients who underwent femoro‐femoral bypass at the University of Hong Kong Medical Centre was undertaken. Data on demographic features and results of surgical intervention were reviewed. Early outcomes (morbidity, mortality and improvement of clinical category) and long‐term outcomes (graft patency, patient survival and limb salvage rates) were analysed. Results : The postoperative morbidity and mortality rates were 16% and 7%, respectively. Clinical success was achieved in 48 patients (79%) after operation. The primary patency of femoro‐femoral bypass was 86%, 79% and 71% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. The limb salvage rate was 85% at 3 years. The cumulative survival rate of the study population was 89%, 82% and 73% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusions : Femoro‐femoral bypass was successful in relieving ischaemic pain and limb salvage in ~ 80% of patients. A 5‐year patency rate of 71% was achieved. Femoro‐femoral bypass remains a valuable surgical procedure for limb salvage in poor‐risk patients with unilateral iliac artery occlusion.     

Unilateral aortofemoral bypass: a safe and effective option for the treatment of unilateral limb-threatening ischemia

To determine whether unilateral aortofemoral (AUF) bypass is a safe and effective option for the treatment of unilateral limb-threatening ischemia in patients with aortic or bilateral iliac occlusive disease, we reviewed the results of 42 AUF bypasses performed using polytetrafluoroethylene grafts in patients operated on for limb salvage; 11 (26%) of the patients also underwent femoropopliteal or femorodistal (FP/D) bypasses. The indications for surgery were tissue necrosis or ulceration in 18 (43%) patients and rest pain in 17 (40%) patients. The 5-year primary graft patency and limb salvage rates for AUF bypass were 74% and 84%, respectively. The perioperative mortality rate was 5%. There were no significant differences in the primary graft patency or limb salvage rates in patients who underwent AUF bypass with or without FP/D bypass. Only 3 of 41 (7%) AUF bypass patients required subsequent femorofemoral bypass. We conclude that: (1) AUF bypass is a safe and effective surgical option in patients with unilateral limb-threatening ischemia and aortic or bilateral iliac occlusive disease; (2) the routine performance of an aortobifemoral or axillobifemoral bypass in patients with unilateral limb-threatening ischemia may be unnecessary; and (3) AUF bypass facilitates the combined inflow and infrainguinal operations that are frequently required for limb salvage in these patients.     

Surgical treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection following infrainguinal arterial reconstruction.

A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection following infrainguinal arterial reconstruction. As repeated MRSA sepsis occurred, we decided to remove the infected graft with distal revascularization via circuitous graft tunneling to avoid serious infections and allow limb salvage. An iliofemoro bypass was performed via an extra-anatomical bypass, from just below the iliac crest into the musculus quadriceps femoris using an 8 mm-ringed polyester gelatin polypropylene tube graft, with complete debridement of a groin infection. Postoperative 3-dimentional CT angiography revealed that the prostheses was patent and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. We concluded that this extra-anatomical bypass was a safe procedure and an excellent option for patients with an infected vascular prosthetic graft in the groin after previous revascularization, like in our case with no available autogeneous vein grafts.     

Combined percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and extraanatomic bypass for symptomatic unilateral iliac artery occlusion with contralateral iliac artery stenosis

We have reviewed our experience with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of contralateral iliac stenosis and extraanatomic bypass of the occluded iliac artery. Twenty-two men and nine women with a mean age of 65 years (range 46 to 84) presented with symptomatic iliac occlusive disease. Twenty-four (77%) had disabling claudication, four (13%) rest pain, and three (10%) ischemic tissue loss. Six (19%) had undergone previous vascular reconstructive procedures. All had an occluded iliac artery on the symptomatic side and greater than 50% stenosis of the contralateral iliac artery. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac stenosis was done prior to extraanatomic bypass, using polytetrafluoroethylene. There were six late deaths after discharge. The only significant complication was a femoral artery thrombosis which was corrected when the bypass graft was performed. Cumulative primary graft patency was 89% at one year and 81% at three years. The crossover graft occluded in six patients, five within 48 months of surgery, and one after nine years. One of these occluded grafts was salvaged by thrombectomy, for a secondary patency rate of 85% at three years. Two patients required aortobifemoral bypass, one an iliobifemoral bypass and one an ilioprofunda bypass. One patient operated upon for rest pain came to below-knee amputation. Mean resting ankle/brachial systolic pressure index increased significantly on the side of the iliac occlusion from 0.35 ±0.21 to 0.70 ± 0.20 (p < 0.05, paired t test) after the combined procedure. There was no significant difference in the mean resting ankle/brachial systolic pressure index on the contralateral side (0.60 ± 0.22 to 0.65 ± 0.27, ns). Combined iliac percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and femorofemoral bypass is a safe alternative to aortobifemoral bypass for selected patients with aortoiliac arterial occlusive disease. Presented at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, General Scientific Meeting, May 1989, Melbourne, Australia.     

Crossover ilioprofunda reconstruction: an expanded role for obturator foramen bypass.

The standard obturator foramen bypass extends from the aorta or iliac artery to the ipsilateral superficial femoral or popliteal artery. This operation has been both effective and versatile as an indirect bypass procedure for circumventing difficult vascular problems in the femoral triangle. A case is presented of a patient whose limb was salvaged by an obturator foramen bypass from the contralateral iliac artery to the profunda femoris artery. This unique case is compared to other published cases to emphasize the potential advantages of the profunda femoris as the preferred graft outflow in selected cases of arterial reconstruction through the obturator foramen.     

下肢慢性动脉闭塞性疾病的外科血管旁路移植与腔内介入治疗

目的 按泛大西洋协作组织(Trans Atlantic Inter-Society consensus,TASC)分型对传统手术与腔内介入治疗的效果进行分析比较. 方法对2005年10月至2008年10月应用血管旁路移植术与腔内介入治疗下肢慢性动脉缺血患者201例的临床资料进行回顾性分析.其中男137例,女64例,男女之比为2.14:1.平均年龄(67±12)岁,其中>70岁患者共101例(占50.2%).结果 (1)腔内介入治疗术后6、12、24个月股浅动脉支架植入通畅率(100.0%、89.8%、75.0%)优于单纯扩张(82.4%、62.5%、35.7%),两者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).(2)手术旁路移植术后24个月二期通畅率88.0%优于介入支架70.7%,两者差异有统计学意义(X2=6.232,P<0.05).结论 血管旁路移植适宜于TASC C、D型股浅动脉长段闭塞,腔内介入适宜于TASC A、B型股浅动脉短段闭塞,且支架植入优于单纯扩张;尽管腔内介入通畅率低于传统手术,但其具有的安全、快捷、可重复性高的特点,使其在下肢动脉闭塞症的治疗中占有重要地位.     

下肢慢性动脉闭塞性疾病的外科血管旁路移植与腔内介入治疗

目的 按泛大西洋协作组织(Trans Atlantic Inter-Society consensus,TASC)分型对传统手术与腔内介入治疗的效果进行分析比较. 方法对2005年10月至2008年10月应用血管旁路移植术与腔内介入治疗下肢慢性动脉缺血患者201例的临床资料进行回顾性分析.其中男137例,女64例,男女之比为2.14:1.平均年龄(67±12)岁,其中>70岁患者共101例(占50.2%).结果 (1)腔内介入治疗术后6、12、24个月股浅动脉支架植入通畅率(100.0%、89.8%、75.0%)优于单纯扩张(82.4%、62.5%、35.7%),两者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).(2)手术旁路移植术后24个月二期通畅率88.0%优于介入支架70.7%,两者差异有统计学意义(X2=6.232,P<0.05).结论 血管旁路移植适宜于TASC C、D型股浅动脉长段闭塞,腔内介入适宜于TASC A、B型股浅动脉短段闭塞,且支架植入优于单纯扩张;尽管腔内介入通畅率低于传统手术,但其具有的安全、快捷、可重复性高的特点,使其在下肢动脉闭塞症的治疗中占有重要地位.     

下肢慢性动脉闭塞性疾病的外科血管旁路移植与腔内介入治疗

目的 按泛大西洋协作组织(Trans Atlantic Inter-Society consensus,TASC)分型对传统手术与腔内介入治疗的效果进行分析比较. 方法对2005年10月至2008年10月应用血管旁路移植术与腔内介入治疗下肢慢性动脉缺血患者201例的临床资料进行回顾性分析.其中男137例,女64例,男女之比为2.14:1.平均年龄(67±12)岁,其中>70岁患者共101例(占50.2%).结果 (1)腔内介入治疗术后6、12、24个月股浅动脉支架植入通畅率(100.0%、89.8%、75.0%)优于单纯扩张(82.4%、62.5%、35.7%),两者差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).(2)手术旁路移植术后24个月二期通畅率88.0%优于介入支架70.7%,两者差异有统计学意义(X2=6.232,P<0.05).结论 血管旁路移植适宜于TASC C、D型股浅动脉长段闭塞,腔内介入适宜于TASC A、B型股浅动脉短段闭塞,且支架植入优于单纯扩张;尽管腔内介入通畅率低于传统手术,但其具有的安全、快捷、可重复性高的特点,使其在下肢动脉闭塞症的治疗中占有重要地位.     

Treatment of unilateral iliac artery disease by femorofemoral bypass grafting.

Between Jan. 1, 1970 and June 30, 1977, 50 men and 23 women underwent femorofemoral bypass grafting. The average age of the group was 64.7 years. The procedure was performed for disabling claudication in 50 patients and for limb threatening ischemia in 23. Knitted Dacron grafts were used in all but two patients. The operative mortality was 4.1% and the late mortality 21.9%. There were six complications related to the prostheses, three infected grafts and three false aneurysms. Thrombosis of the graft occurred in 15 patients; the graft was successfully revised in 2. The cumulative 5-year patency rate determined by life-table methods was 73.4%. The causes of failure appeared to be well defined and unilateral iliac artery disease. The donor iliac artery, poor runoff through a diseases deep femoral artery on the recipient side and infection of the graft. This study indicates that femoro-femoral bypass has a definite place in the management of patients with unilateral iliac artery disease. The procedure can be performed on selected patients with a low operative mortality and an acceptable patency rate.     

Current indications for axillounifemoral and axillobifemoral bypass grafts

Revascularization of the lower extremities may require an axillofemoral bypass when an aortobifemoral bypass is contraindicated. Thirty-one patients underwent axillounifemoral and 59 had an axillobifemoral bypass, with a mortality rate of 9%. The indication for operation was limb salvage in 67%, intra-abdominal sepsis in 21%, and disabling claudication in 12%. Cumulative survival, patency, and limb salvage rates were determined by life-table analysis. The cumulative patency and limb salvage rates (with standard errors) at 3 years were 68% +/- 8% and 78% +/- 9%, respectively. When stratified for type of operation, axillobifemoral bypass had a superior patency rate compared with axillounifemoral bypass (log rank = 3.882, p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference when patients were stratified for diabetes (log rank = 2.213, p = no significance [NS]), operative indication (disabling claudication vs. limb salvage) (log rank = 0.0005, p = NS), or outflow (no profundaplasty vs. profundaplasty) (log rank = 2.011, p = NS). We conclude that axillofemoral bypass is a reasonable alternative for revascularization in high-risk patients or in those patients in whom a transabdominal approach is contraindicated. We recommend aggressive use of the profunda femoris artery when the superficial femoral artery is occluded to achieve optimal results.