Assessing arterial inflow before infra-inguinal bypass grafting: a survey of the members of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Abstract

The optimal assessment of arterial inflow is controversial. We investigated current preferences of inflow assessment prior to infra-inguinal bypass grafting. A questionnaire was sent to 364 members of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland asking about inflow assessment in different clinical situations, access to resources, size of hospital and number of grafts performed each year. Questionnaires analysed=169. Angiography was used by 89.5%, most single view. Two views angiography was used more often by surgeons performing more than 20 femoro-distal grafts each year (79.3 versus 37.6%). Routine use of iliac duplex was <20%; poor femoral pulse increased this to near 30%. About 90% of respondents had access to colour flow duplex. Most respondents use single-plane angiography to assess inflow before infra-inguinal grafting. Two views and functional tests are used more commonly by surgeons working in larger or teaching hospitals and those performing more grafts.