Long-Term Limb Salvage and Amputation-Free Survival After Femoropopliteal Bypass and Femoropopliteal PTA for Critical Ischemia in a Clinical Cohort

Objective: This population-based retrospective cohort study investigates long-term results of femoropopliteal bypass and femoropopliteal endovascular intervention (PTA) in patients with critical ischemia, with focus on limb salvage and amputation-free survival. Methods: All patients who underwent femoropopliteal bypass or femoropopliteal PTA for critical ischemia without other simultaneous intervention between 1999 and 2013 were included. Stratification was according to treatment modality and symptoms, rest pain, or ischemic ulcer/gangrene. We assessed technical success, 30-day complications, length of stay, recurrent interventions, limb salvage, survival, and amputation-free survival in all patients. Results: We identified 292 operations in 264 patients, 140 bypass and 152 PTA. In 32 PTA cases, the patients were explicitly deemed unfit for bypass surgery. This group had significantly inferior technical success and limb salvage (P = .00). In other patients, technical success was 96% for bypass and 93% for PTA, while limb salvage after 5 years was 78% for bypass and 81% for PTA. Reoperation for local complications was performed in 16% after bypass and 2% after PTA (P = .00). Mean length of stay was 8 days after bypass and 1.9 days after PTA (P = .00). Conclusions: Long-term follow-up showed similar technical success and good limb salvage for both PTA and bypass patients in this clinical cohort. Patients who were unfit for bypass surgery had significantly inferior technical success and limb salvage. PTA was associated with shorter hospital stay and fewer reoperations for local complications. The findings support a PTA first strategy in all cases where technical success is likely.