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Circulation, Vol 60, 124-126, Copyright © 1979 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

The elderly patient with severe arterial insufficiency of the lower extremity: limb salvage by femoro-popliteal reconstruction

FA Reichle, KP Rankin, RR Tyson, CR Shuman and AJ Finestone

To determine the feasibility of limb salvage in elderly patients in whom severe ischemia of the lower extremity is present, the results of femoro-popliteal reconstruction done primarily for limb salvage were reviewed. Of 310 femoro-popliteal bypasses, 72 were performed on patients 70 years of age or older. In the over-70 group, ischemic necrosis was present in 70.8% rest pain in 22.2%, and claudication in 7.0%. Initial limb salvage patients 70 years of age or older was 71.4%. Cumulative limb salvage at 5 years was 51.1% and at 10 years was 44.8%. Operative mortality, including mortality of subsequent amputation, when required, was 8.3%. Appreciable limb salvage can be achieved by femoro- popliteal arterial reconstruction in lieu of primary amputation in elderly patients in whom severe arterial insufficiency of the lower extremity is present.