Civil and war peripheral arterial trauma: review of risk factors associated with limb loss

We sought to analyze the early results of civil and war peripheral arterial injury treatment and to identify risk factors associated with limb loss. Between 1992 and 2001, data collected retrospectively and prospectively on 413 patients with 448 peripheral arterial injuries were analyzed. Of these, there were 140 patients with war injuries and 273 patients with civil injuries. The mechanism of injury was gunshot in 40%, blunt injury in 24%, explosive trauma in 20.3%, and stabbing in 15.7% of the cases. The most frequently injured vessels were the femoral arteries (37.3%), followed by the popliteal (27.8%), axillary and brachial (23.5%), and crural arteries (6.5%). Associated injuries, which included bone, nerve, and remote injuries affecting the head, chest, or abdomen, were present in 60.8% of the cases. Surgery was carried out on all patients, with a limb salvage rate of 89.1% and a survival rate of 97.3%. In spite of a rising trend in peripheral arterial injuries, our total and delayed amputation rates remained stable. On statistical analysis, significant risk factors for amputation were found to be failed revascularization, associated injuries, secondary operation, explosive injury, war injury (p < .01) and arterial contusion with consecutive thrombosis, popliteal artery injury, and late surgery (p < .05). Peripheral arterial injuries, if inadequately treated, carry a high amputation rate. Explosive injuries are the most likely to lead to amputations, whereas stab injuries are the least likely to do so. The most significant independent risk factor for limb loss was failed revascularization.     

A decade of civilian vascular trauma in Kosovo

ABSTRACT: Purpose We sought to analyze the results of arterial injury management in a busy metropolitan vascular unit and risk factors associated with mortality and morbidity. Patients and methods We analyzed 120 patient with arterial injury treated between year 2000 and 2010 at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo. Seven of these years were prospective and three retrospective study. RESULTS: The mechanism of arterial injury was stabbing 46.66%, gunshot wounds in 31.66%, blunt in 13.33%, and landmine in 8.33%. The most frequently injured vessel was the superficial femoral artery (25%), followed by the brachial artery (20.9%), crural arteries (13.1%), forearm arteries (14.3%), iliac arteries (7.5%), abdominal aorta (3.3%), common femoral artery (3.3%) and popliteal artery (3.3%). Associated injuries including bone, nerve and remote injury (affecting the head, chest, or abdomen) were present in 24.2% of patients. The decision to operate was made based on the presence of "hard signs" of vascular trauma. Arterial reconstruction was performed in 90.8% of patients, 5.8% of patients underwent primary amputation and 3.2% died on the operation table. Overall survival rate was 95.8%. CONCLUSION: Injuries to the arteries are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Mechanism of injury (blunt, gunshot, landmine or stub), hemodynamic stability at the admission, localization of injury, time from injury to flow restitution, associated injuries to the structures in the region and remote organs are critical factors influencing outcome.     

Lower extremity arterial injury: results of 550 cases and review of risk factors associated with limb loss

PURPOSE: We sought to analyze the results of lower limb arterial injury (LLAI) management in a busy metropolitan vascular unit and to identify risk factors associated with limb loss.Patients and Methods: Between 1987 and 1997, prospectively collected data on 550 patients with 641 lower limb arterial injuries were analyzed. RESULTS: The mechanism of LLAI was gunshot wounds in 46.1%, blunt in 19%, stabbing in 11.8%, and shotgun in 9.1%. The most frequently injured vessel was the superficial femoral artery (37.2%), followed by the popliteal (30.7%), crural (11%), common femoral (8.7%), and deep femoral (5.3%) arteries. In 3.4% of cases, there was a combined injury on either side of the knee (ipsilaterally). Associated injuries included bony injury in 35.1% of cases, nerve injury in 7.6%, and remote affecting the head, chest, or abdomen in 3.6%. Surgery was carried out on 96.2% of cases with a limb salvage rate of 83.8% and a survival of 98.5%. In spite of a rising trend in LLAI, our total and delayed amputation rates remained stable. On stepwise logistic regression analysis, significant (P <.01) independent risk factors for amputation were occluded graft (odds ratio [OR] 16.7), combined above- and below-knee injury (OR 4.4), tense compartment (OR 4.2), arterial transsection (OR 2.8), and associated compound fracture (OR 2.7). CONCLUSION: LLAI carries a high amputation rate. Stab injuries are the least likely to lead to amputations, whereas high-velocity firearm injuries are the most likely to do so. The most significant independent risk factor for limb loss was failed revascularization.     

Revascularization of the limbs using vein grafts after vascular injuries

We report on 32 patients with vascular injury of a limb undergoing a total of 41 revascularization procedures with interposition vein grafts. A combined arterial and venous injury was present in nine cases, an isolated venous injury in four, and an isolated arterial injury in 19 cases. Eighteen per cent of patients with arterial injuries had normal distal pulses on initial examination. Preoperative arteriography was performed in 12 cases, and intraoperative arteriography in four. All venous injuries were diagnosed at operation. In most cases, the contralateral greater saphenous vein was used for grafting. Four patients had postoperative thrombosis after arterial reconstruction resulting in below knee amputation in two cases. Two patients suffered from postoperative swelling caused by venous insufficiency, one after ligation of an injured axillary vein, and the other one following venous thrombosis of a superficial femoral vein repair. It is concluded that revascularization of arterial and venous injuries of the extremities with interposition vein grafts is successful in most cases resulting in low amputation rates, and should be attempted in all major vascular injuries in viable limbs.     

Vascular injuries in everyday practice

BACKGROUND: It was the objective of this retrospective study to analyse the causes of injury, surgical approaches, outcome, and complications in patients with vascular trauma and to report our experience with vein homografts for arterial reconstruction in the upper and lower limbs and cervicothoracic region in patients operated on over a period between 1981-2001. PATIENTS: In 128 patients with peripheral arterial injuries the mechanism was direct penetration in 90 cases and blunt injury in 20 cases. In 4 cases a chronic damage (false aneurysm, AV fistula) was observed. Isolated vascular trauma was present in 97 patients (75.8%), 31 cases (24.2%) were aggravated by concomitant bone fractures, and nerve or soft tissue damage. Most frequently injured vessels were the superficial femoral (22.6%), crural (22.6%), and ulnar and radial (13.2%) arteries. 16 patients with penetrating cervicothoracic arterial injuries were registered during this period. 8 patients underwent emergency exploration and 8 patients angiography prior urgent exploration. RESULTS: Saphenous vein interposition grafting was applied with good results in 34 patients, polytetrafluoroethylene and Dacron grafts were used in eight cases, end to end anastomosis in 12 cases, venous bypasses in 5 cases, venous patches in 7 cases. 17 patients underwent arterial repair and 9 venous repair. Vein homografts as an arterial substitute were implanted in 8 patients. Five secondary amputations were performed and five patients died. The limb salvage rate was 95% and the primary patency rate of vein homografts was 75% (excluded primary amputations). The penetrating cervicothoracic injuries were all repaired with improvement in level of consciousness and neurological deficit when present. CONCLUSIONS: Most vascular injuries of the extremities can be managed successfully unless associated with severe concomitant damage of the bones, nerves and soft tissues. In the absence of suitable autologous vein grafts, homografts appear to be an interesting alternative for arterial repair. In penetrating cervicothoracic vascular injuries immediate operative repair offers the best chance of recovery.     

The continuing challenge of popliteal vascular injuries

During a 6 year period, 35 patients with 56 popliteal vascular injuries were treated. Thirty-three arteries and 23 popliteal veins were affected. Fifty-four percent of the patients had both an arterial and a venous injury. Twenty injuries were due to penetrating trauma and 15 injuries to blunt force. An overall amputation rate of 16 percent followed attempts at vascular repair. Blunt injuries were associated with a 30 percent amputation rate, whereas penetrating injuries were associated with only a 5 percent amputation rate. When our results were reviewed and compared with those of others, several factors important for determining the rate of limb salvage in popliteal vascular injuries were noted: (1) early recognition and prompt treatment, (2) absence of blunt injury with attendant soft tissue damage; (3) resection of damaged arterial tissue with end-to-end anastomosis or saphenous vein grafting in conjunction with the liberal employment of local heparin and a Fogarty catheter thrombectomy, (4) repair of concomitant popliteal venous injuries; (5) use of completion arteriography to reveal technical errors amenable to correction at time of operation; and (6) fasciotomy, used liberally but selectively.     

Pseudoaneurysms of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries after gunshot injuries

BACKGROUND: Pseudoaneurysms (PsAns) of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries are very rare and occur as a late complication after arterial injury. This study was undertaken to describe the management of PsAns of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries after gunshot injuries in a civilian vascular surgical unit with a large trauma workload. METHODS: A retrospective review of the records of nine patients treated between January 1998 and November 2001 at the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Numune Education and Research Hospital was undertaken. RESULTS: Nine PsAns of the popliteal and tibioperoneal arteries after gunshot injuries were treated. The delay in diagnosis from the time of injury ranged from 15 days to 14 months, with a median delay of 75 days. One case with graft occlusion was noticed in a patient with a popliteal artery PsAn. In these cases, the early and late patency rate and limb salvage were 100%. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of popliteal and tibioperoneal PsAns is an important factor in successful surgical reconstruction. The operative procedures will be simple if the interval between injury and operation is short, and surgical treatment for PsAns includes reconstruction of both arterial and venous arteries.     

火器性四肢动脉伤：附50例报告

作者报告５０例５２条四肢火器性动脉伤，其中枪弹伤３７例，弹片伤１３例；急性动脉伤３２例（３３条），晚期动脉伤８例，假性动脉瘤７例，动静脉瘘３例（４条）。平均随访２４．２个月，无一例死亡，修复血管通畅率９３％，截肢率９．８％，肢体缺血性挛缩发生率１０．９％。作者强调，早期诊断、早期正确处理此类动脉伤是成功的关键。应争取在伤后６～１２小时内修复损伤血管。根据临床表现可作出诊断，急性动脉伤一般不做血管造影，对可疑肢体主要动脉伤应积极手术探查。根据伤情采用对端吻合或自体静脉移植修复血管，不主张用人造血管修复，血管部分断裂不宜做侧壁吻合。晚期动脉伤应争取修复血管以改善肢体循环。假性动脉瘤和动静脉瘘宜早期切除修复血管，待伤口愈合、组织柔软后即可手术。     

Vascular injuries: experience during the Afghanistan War.

This is a prospective study done over an 18-month period in three base evacuation hospitals serving the Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Out of 224 patients, 78 had major and 146 had minor arterial injuries. Late presentation was a common finding. Mine explosions ranked first as a causative agent. This explains the high incidence of lower limb affections and minor vascular injuries. In the major arterial injury group, the superficial femoral artery was the commonest injured (33.4%), followed by the brachial (28.2%). Associated major venous injury occurred in 41% of cases while 25.6% had a compound fracture of the nearby bone. All subclavian and axillary artery injury patients had concomitant brachial plexus injury. Arterial repair was done in 73 patients (93.6%) and ligation in 5. The importance of venous repair was emphasised; venous ligation was done in 6 patients only (19.4%). Repeated extensive debridement was done in 4 patients and useful limbs were left. This is believed to be a good alternative for selected cases with extensive muscle laceration. 3 patients died in the early post-operative period and 3 needed amputation (4%). Other complications were graft sloughing (1.3%) thrombosis (6%) and stenosis (9%). Only 56.9% of patients were followed up for 3-6 months.     

Vascular injury about the knee. Improved outcome

The records of 41 patients with 43 vascular injuries about the knee (34 popliteal artery, five tibial-peroneal trunk, one proximal anterior tibial artery, and three isolated popliteal veins) were analyzed. The etiology of the injuries were gunshot wounds (22), blunt trauma (11), shotgun wounds (4), and stab wounds (4). Associated injuries included fractures (67%), popliteal vein (54%), and nerves (32%). Arterial repairs consisted of primary repair (19), lateral repair (1), saphenous vein grafts (13), and saphenous vein patching (1). Five patients received polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. Fasciotomy was performed in 27 limbs. The associated venous injuries (21) and isolated venous injuries (3) were managed with ligation (14), primary repair (9), and vein patch (1). The amputation rate was 11 per cent for popliteal artery injuries (4/34). No other amputations were required. All four amputations were associated with massive limb injury (3) or diagnostic delay (1). One patient died during hemodialysis for renal failure resulting from prolonged shock and myoglobinuria. Successful management correlates best with prompt repair of both popliteal arterial and venous injuries and early fasciotomy. Vein repair (vs ligation) is associated with better long-term results.     

Closed complete dislocations of the crus and the result of their treatment]

Based on the analysis of treatment of 22 patients with complete closed crural dislocations, it is emphasized that this trauma is associated with extensive and specific injuries to the articular elements. Concomitant injuries of popliteal vessels were found in 4 (of 22) cases. Timely performed operative restoration of the arterial integrity yielded favourable late results in 2 patients. Two patients admitted in later terms were subjected to a high amputation of the leg. In 15 patients the knee joint instability developed due to ligamental rupture in crural dislocation. Eleven patients from this group were operated upon, plastic reconstruction of ruptured lateral and crucial ligaments and the removal of injured meniscuses being accomplished in them. Persistant good and satisfactory functional results were gained in 10 cases. Only one poor issue was noted.     

Treatment of limb arterial in juries caused by traffic accidents

Objective:To analyze the features,diagonosis and treatment of limb arterial injuries caused by traffic accidents.Methods:A total of 43 patients with limb arterial injury admitted in our department over the past 30years(about50%of them happened during the last10 years)were analyzed retrospectively in this article.The popliteal,femoral and brachial arteries were mainly involved,accounting for 432%,20.5%and20.5%respectively of all the involvements.There were 35cases of open injury and9of close injury,The involved vessels were transected in 43.2%of the cases and contused in 40.9%,All the patients had various complications,such as fractures,dislocations and severe soft tissue injuries.The injured vessels were repaired by means of end-to-end anastomosis in 10cases,autogenous vein graft in 23cases and intraluminal hydraulic dilatation in 4cases.Results:Successful limb salvage was achieved in 34cases initially,whereas10amputations were carried out due to injuries to popliteal arteries in7,femoral arteries in2and humeral artery in 1and severe soft tissue damages in9 cases.Twenty-nine patients were followed up for 1-156months,with the averageof48.8months.There was good circulation in 22 cases and certain ischemia in 5cases.Two amputations were carried out in the late stage because of popliteal artery thrombosis after repair in 2cases.There was no death in this series.Conclusions:The limb arterial injuries caused by traffic accidents are severe and complicated.It is proposed that particulatr attentions should be paid to the features in diagnosis and treatment for this type of injury and special efforts should be made for both life saving and limb salvage.     

Extra-anatomic bypass of failed traumatic arterial repairs

Arterial injuries are best treated by primary repair or anatomically placed interposition grafts. Occasionally, these repairs fail due to adverse local factors, such as soft-tissue infection or enteric contamination. In these instances, limb salvage may require extra-anatomic arterial reconstruction. Between 1979 and 1989, 13 extra-anatomic bypasses were performed in ten male patients following nine failed primary repairs and one ligation of a traumatic arterial injury. The sites of arterial injury were: aorta (two), iliac (five), femoral (two), popliteal (one). Enteric contamination was present at initial operation in six patients; the remaining four had sustained massive soft-tissue injury. Reoperation was required for hemorrhage (seven), pseudoaneurysm (two), and arteriovenous fistula (one). All patients had developed local wound problems that militated against another anatomic repair. Extra-anatomic bypasses performed were: axillo-femoral (three), femoro-femoral (four), obturator (one), and two extra-anatomic femoral to popliteal saphenous vein grafts routed around an infected field. A second extra-anatomic reconstruction was performed for recurrent hemorrhage in three patients, (axillo-femoral--two, obturator--one). One patient with a neuropathic extremity and a functioning graft underwent amputation at 2 months following the initial injury. Two patients died of systemic sepsis. Seven patients (70%) have functional extremities with intact pulses at 2 to 24 months post bypass (mean, 7 months). Limb salvage after secondary disruption of secondarily infected arterial repairs can be achieved by appropriate extra-anatomic arterial reconstruction. In such cases, limb loss is due to soft-tissue sepsis or neuro-skeletal injuries and not vascular insufficiency.     

Vascular trauma to the lower extremity: the Lebanese war experience

The authors' experience with 386 patients who were operated on for vascular injuries to the lower extremities is reviewed. Of these, 118 had popliteal injuries, 252 had femoral injuries and 16 had tibial injuries. The overall mortality rate was 2.33% with no mortality in the popliteal and tibial injuries group whereas there were nine deaths in the femoral injuries group. The overall amputation rate was 5.95%, with 3.17% amputation rate for the femoral injuries group versus 11.86% for the popliteal injuries group and 6.25% for the tibial injuries group. Delay in repair (more than 6h from injury), associated femoral fractures and shocked condition on admission led to increased amputation rate. Prompt surgical repair, arterial as well as venous repair for popliteal and femoral injuries especially if femoral fracture is present, external skeletal fixation and/or traction, and fasciotomy when necessary led to improved limb salvage.     

Immediate revascularization of the popliteal artery and vein: report of a case

A case demonstrating the successful use of Silastic shunts for immediate limb revascularization is presented. Temporary limb revascularization may reduce the rate of amputation in combined popliteal vessel injuries. A major cause of limb loss is delay between injury and revascularization, including transport time and time spent dealing with other injuries. Repair of the popliteal vein increases the chance of successful limb salvage. Temporary Silastic shunts can alleviate time loss while others problems are dealt with and allow rapid venous, as well as arterial, revascularization. The technical ease and rapidity of shunt placement converts a catastrophic vascular emergency into a manageable problem.     

Combined subclavian artery and brachial plexus injuries from blunt upper-extremity trauma

Four cases of blunt upper extremity trauma producing subclavian artery and brachial plexus injuries are presented. In each case the patient was hemodynamically stable and arteriography demonstrated the subclavian lesion. Arterial reconstruction was successfully accomplished in three cases, but no use of the injured limb was regained by any patient. Early arterial repair may still be indicated to allow later above-elbow amputation for the purpose of functional rehabilitation.     

Optimal limb salvage in penetrating civilian vascular trauma

To evaluate current treatment of peripheral vascular trauma, we reviewed our recent experience with noniatrogenic penetrating vascular injuries of the extremities. Between 1979 and 1984, 139 patients sustained 204 vascular injuries inflicted by single gunshots (64%), stabbings (24%), and shotguns (12%). Eighty-four percent of patients underwent preoperative arteriography, which revealed occult arterial injury in 13 patients (9%). Compartmental hypertension necessitated fasciotomy in 19% of patients and was required more often after combined arterial and venous injuries (29%) than after isolated arterial injury (14%). Arterial continuity was restored by interposition grafting with reversed saphenous vein (62%), end-to-end anastomosis (19%), vein patch angioplasty (8%), or primary repair (4%). After arterial repair, completion angiography detected the need for revision in 8% of patients. Arterial ligation was performed in 7% of injuries and was only used in the treatment of tibial and distal profunda femoris injuries. Forty-five percent of patients sustained concomitant venous injury; 64% of all venous injuries and 90% of femoropopliteal venous injuries were repaired. No deaths occurred, and a single patient required amputation. We conclude that a protocol of preoperative arteriography, liberal. use of fasciotomy, frequent use of autologous interposition grafts, repair of major venous injuries, and routine use of completion arteriography can result in limb salvage rates that approach 100% after penetrating vascular trauma to the extremities.     

Composite sequential grafts for femorocrural bypass reconstruction: experience with a modified technique

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of a modification of the composite sequential femorocrural bypass graft that we adopted in 1985, a retrospective case-note study was undertaken. The grafts combined a prosthetic femoropopliteal section with a popliteal to crural section with autologous vein, linked via a common intermediate anastomosis sited on the above-knee popliteal artery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1985 and 2000, 68 grafts of this type were constructed in 65 patients with critical ischemia of the lower limb and insufficient autologous vein for construction of an all venous bypass. Reasons for insufficient long saphenous vein included previous lower limb bypass in 33 cases, phlebitis in 16 cases, venous hypoplasia in eight cases, and previous varicose vein surgery in seven cases. Distal anastomoses were carried out to the peroneal artery in 26 cases, the anterior tibial artery in 17 cases, the posterior tibial artery in 17 cases, and the pedal arteries in eight cases. Sources of vein included the long saphenous vein in 26 cases, the arm vein in 38 cases, and the short saphenous vein in two cases. In 22 limbs (32%), angiography had shown an occluded segment of above-knee popliteal artery, and in these cases, local popliteal disobliteration was performed to receive the composite anastomosis and to provide additional outflow. RESULTS: The 2-year cumulative primary patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage rates were 68%, 73%, and 75%, respectively. Localized popliteal disobliteration did not compromise graft patency (P =.07, with log-rank test). CONCLUSION: In the absence of sufficient autologous vein, patients needing bypass to crural arteries can be offered reconstruction with composite sequential grafting with satisfactory results. Furthermore, an occluded above-knee popliteal segment is not a contraindication for composite sequential bypass reconstruction.     

Acute trauma of the femoral artery and vein.

Between 1974 and 1991, 233 patients were treated for 321 confirmed femoral vascular injuries. There were 112 patients (48%) with isolated arterial injuries, 36 (15%) with isolated venous injuries and 85 (36%) with combined arterial and venous injuries. Injury to the concomitant superficial or common vessels occurred in 27 (8.3%) and 9 (1.7%) patients, respectively. Associated extremity injuries included bone, 15%; soft tissue and muscle, 11%; and nerve, 7%. Sixty patients (26%) had fasciotomies. Arterial thrombosis occurred in five superficial repairs. Eighteen repaired veins thrombosed--eight of 61 simple (lateral venorrhaphy) and ten of 50 complex repairs. Thirty-four percent of patients with a repaired venous injury had clinical evidence of postoperative venous morbidity--deep vein thrombosis (DVT), edema, pulmonary embolus. Six patients (2.5%) had a documented pulmonary embolus--four in the 18 patients (22%) with clotted venous repairs. Eleven patients (4.7%) underwent an amputation. Five of the amputations were in patients with either inadequate or delayed fasciotomy. An inadequate fasciotomy was equally as deleterious as a delayed fasciotomy in terms of outcome. Six of 27 limbs (22%) with a femur fracture required an amputation. There were six deaths. Acute limb morbidity was related to the extent of associated limb trauma, i.e., soft-tissue, nerve, and bone damage. Chronic morbidity was related to neurologic deficits and venous sequelae. Vascular injury to the femoral vessels was associated with a high morbidity but low mortality.     

Vascular Injuries Associated with Elective Orthopedic Procedures

The objective of this study was to review the diagnosis, management, and outcome of the rare iatrogenic arterial injury associated with elective orthopedic joint procedures. A retrospective review was conducted of all patients presenting to the vascular surgery service with arterial injury after elective orthopedic procedures between 1997 and 2002. Clinical records were reviewed for presentation, type of injury, management, and outcome. During the study period, 20 patients having 21 total orthopedic procedures were identified with 27 arterial injuries. There were 4350 elective orthopedic procedures during this period for an incidence of 0.005%. There were 14 total knee arthroplasties, 4 total hip arthroplasties, and 3 ankle reconstructions in the study group. Presenting signs included acute ischemia with loss-of-limb Doppler-detected arterial flow/pulses (13 patients, 62%), intraoperative arterial bleeding (3 patients, 14%), nonhealing wounds (3 patients, 14%), and limb edema (2 patients, 10%); the diagnosis was delayed >24 hr in 5 patients (25%). Arterial thrombosis was the most common abnormality identified (21 of 27 injuries, 78%), followed by laceration/avulsion (3 injuries, 11%) and pseudoaneurysm development (3 patients, 11%), and involved the iliac (n = 3), common femoral (n = 2), profunda (n = 1), superficial femoral (n = 4), popliteal (n = 12), or tibial (n = 5) arteries. Concomitant popliteal venous injury was present in one patient. Injured arterial segments had preexisting atherosclerotic disease (33%) and 15 patients (71%) had prior surgery in proximity to the arterial injury while an additional 9 (43%) had prior traumatic injury (7 [78%] of whom had revision orthopedic surgery as well). Management consisted of vein bypass grafting (n = 15, 56%), primary repair (n = 3, 11%), and thrombectomy with thrombolysis (n = 2, 7%). One patient (5%) underwent primary above-knee amputation. There was one death from septic shock and there were three limb losses (14%). Arterial injury associated with elective orthopedic joint surgery is more common during redoprocedures and in patients with preexisting atherosclerosis. Despite arterial repair/bypass, limb morbidity is common and related to preexisting occlusive disease or extent of arterial thrombosis. Presented at the Thirteenth Annual Winter Meeting of the Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Snowmass, CO, January 31-February 2, 2003.