Long-term results of arterial reconstruction of the upper extremity.

Arterial reconstructive surgery for upper limb ischaemia of non-traumatic non-embolic origin is uncommon in comparison to that of the lower extremities and long-term follow-ups are rare. Forty-eight patients (27 females, 21 males) with a median age of 58 years (range 22-88) were retrospectively analysed for risk factors, survival and patency rates. Seventy-three per cent were smokers, 42% had hypertension and 33% had had previous vascular interventions. Diabetes was only seen in 4% of the cases. Effort fatigue was the dominant cause for surgery followed by micro-embolism and rest pain or gangrene. The left side was more frequently affected with 30 procedures compared to 18 on the right. Bypass with either Dacron, ePTFE or autologous vein was the most frequent procedure in 56% of the cases followed by thrombendarterectomy (23%) and subclavio-carotid transposition (11%). Arm-arm index rose from 0.63 (SD 0.28) preoperatively to 1.02 (SD 0.12) after 1 month and at the end of follow-up (median 75 months) it was 0.96 (SD 0.15). Cumulative survival rates were at 1 month 98%, 1 year 91%, 5 years 81% and at 10 years 73%. Cumulative primary patency rates at the same intervals were 96, 96, 88 and 80%, respectively. Thus the survival rate and patency rate are favourable in comparison with arterial surgical procedures of the lower extremity.