Background: Complete eversion of the femoral tripod is interesting to reduce clinical consequences of wound infection, in particular for patients at a high risk (e.g., obese, diabetics, cancer). Experience and follow-up of this technique are scarce. The different technical possibilities and results are reported here.
Methods: A single-center prospective study including patients operated on for femoral occlusive lesions using eversion of the common femoral artery and its bifurcation. Clinical and imaging preoperative data, surgical technique, and follow-up are detailed.
Results: Thirty five patients (37 limbs) have been included between June 2014 and April 2016. The mean Rutherford index was 3.6 and 65% of the patients were claudicants. Lesions were limited to the common femoral artery in 14 (38%) of the cases and spread to the superficial femoral artery in 2 (7%) and to the 3 branches in 21 (57%) of the cases, respectively. Postoperatively, one death, one major amputation, and 3 reinterventions were noted, resulting in an 8% rate of major complications. The mean follow-up was 37 months. At this time, 11 major adverse cardiovascular events, 9 deaths, and no additional major amputation were noted. The mean Rutherford index was 1.7 (P < 0.001) and 3 reinterventions were necessary (one for septic occlusion at 3 months and 2 for restenosis at 12 and 42 months), translating into primary and secondary patency rates of 93.3% and 96.1%, respectively.
Conclusions: This work further confirms that eversion of the femoral tripod is safe and effective. This experience adds to the existing body of the literature and describes alternative techniques of eversion. The technique should be considered when treating patients at a high risk of postoperative infection.
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