Contemporary Outcomes of Iliofemoral Bypass Grafting for Unilateral Aortoiliac Occlusive Disease: A 10-Year Experience

Current treatment of complex aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) includes the aortobifemoral bypass or the femoral-femoral bypass. However, because of bilateral groin exposure and associated risks, there is a significant morbidity associated with these procedures. In appropriate patients with unilateral AIOD, the iliofemoral bypass graft (IFBPG) via a lower abdominal retro-peritoneal incision can be an acceptable alternative. The purpose of this study is to review the safety and efficacy as well as long-term outcomes of IFBPG in patients with unilateral AIOD. From July 1997 through June 2006, 40 patients (64.3 ± 11.2-years-old, range 41–89-years-old, 57.5% critical limb ischemia, 70% male, 95% smokers) with unilateral AIOD were treated with IFBPG. Perioperative complications and symptom resolution were measured and Kaplan-Meier life table analysis was used to analyze outcomes of primary and secondary patency, survival, limb salvage, contralateral intervention, and maintenance of ambulation and independent living status. The perioperative complication rate was 12.5 per cent (n = 5) including one patient who developed atrial-fibrillation and one who developed acute renal failure. Both patients experienced resolution of these symptoms before discharge. Other complications included one limb thrombosis and two wound infections. There were no perioperative deaths. Secondary patency was 97.5 per cent and 93.3 per cent at 1 and 5 years. Limb salvage in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) was 85.1 per cent and 79.1 per cent at 1 and 5 years. Limb amputation occurred due to infection (n = 2), or failed IFBPG (n = 2). Thirty-one patients (77.5%) experienced symptom resolution including 15 (88.2%) of the patients treated for claudication. Two patients (5%) required contralateral iliac intervention. Patient survival was 97.5 per cent and 64.5 per cent at 1 and 5 years. Greater than 90 per cent of patients maintained their functional independence at 5 years. IFBPG achieved excellent technical and functional outcomes, particularly in patients treated for vasculogenic claudication. This procedure is relatively safe and efficacious in a population of patients with complex unilateral AIOD and can be an acceptable alternative to the aortobifemoral bypass or fem-fem procedure.