Objective: To study the factors leading to wound problems in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) with emphasis on subcutaneous vs. deep placement of grafts.
Methods: The outcomes of patients undergoing an infrainguinal bypass with preoperative CRI (serum creatinine > or = 2.0 mg/dl) were reviewed. Surgical site infection (SSI) was classified as superficial or deep according to the Centres for Disease Control standards.
Results: Forty-two patients underwent a total of 47 infrainguinal bypasses for ischaemic rest pain or tissue loss. The graft location was partially or predominantly subcutaneous in 21 limbs (Group I) and 26 grafts were positioned in the anatomic or subfascial planes (Group II). In Group I, seven early (< 30 days postoperative), one intermediate (4-6 weeks postoperative), and one late (> 6 weeks postoperative) SSI's were found (9/21, 43%). In three of these patients the graft was exposed and two required removal. In contrast, only two early and one intermediate SSI's (3/26, 12%) were noted in Group II (p = 0.02). A logistic regression analysis, with twelve possible covariables wound healing, confirmed the subcutaneous location to be the only controllable factor significantly predicting SSI (relative risk = 11.6, p = 0.01).
Conclusions: The infrainguinal bypass in patients with CRI is associated with a high incidence of wound complications. In our retrospective series, the presence of a vascular conduit in the subcutaneous plane was connected with a higher rate of SSI. Despite the growing trend toward the use of the in situ bypass, CRI may represent a circumstance where deeply placed grafts should be used preferentially.