Background: This prospective study compares results of infrainguinal revascularisation with autologous vein in diabetic and non-diabetic populations.
Patients and methods: 101 patients (diabetics (A) n = 50 and non-diabetics (B) n = 51) were operated upon with an in situ saphenous vein bypass to the popliteal artery below knee or to crural arteries, due to critical ischemia. Data on operative details, morbidity, mortality, secondary interventions and graft patency, were collected prospectively. All patients were followed up for 5 years.
Results: The two groups were similar except that diabetics more often suffered from gangrene or tissue loss. The distal anastomoses were constructed significantly more distally in diabetics. There were no differences in perioperative bleeding, length of operation, hospital stay or 30 d mortality. The 5 year patency did not differ significantly between groups, A 68 % vs. B 72 %. The limb salvage was equal in both groups, 86 % after 5 years. Mortality during follow up was significantly higher among diabetics, at two years A 31 % vs. B 14 %.
Conclusions: Distal revascularisation with in situ technique is a durable procedure that can be performed with very good results in both diabetics and non-diabetics. The survival among diabetics is however significantly lower, although reaching 69 % at two years.