Prosthetic vascular graft management in above-knee amputations.

Abstract

Critical limb ischaemia (CLI) is the most severe state of peripheral arterial disease and is one of the major causes of lower-limb amputations. One of the treatment choices is prosthetic vascular grafts. Despite treatment, CLI may lead to amputation owing to infection or progressive ischaemia. The aim of this study was to show that multidisciplinary planning and surgery for CLI patients with prosthetic grafts decreased the duration of hospital stay, costs, risk of infection and ascending conversion of the amputation level. Forty-two above-knee amputation patients with grafts were retrospectively evaluated. Group A patients (n = 24) had partial excision and group B patients ( n = 18) total excision with or without saphenous patch-plasty, according to the patency of the deep femoral artery. Growth in wound culture, antibiotic therapy duration, conversion to hip disarticulation and hospitalisation periods were compared. Differences in growth of wound culture (p = 0.007), antibiotic duration (p = 0.003), hip disarticulation (p = 0.029) and duration of hospital stay (p = 0.0001) between the two groups were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Management of CLI patients is a complex process, and a multidisciplinary approach is key to avoiding undesirable outcomes. Meticulous planning, including excision of the total graft, while ensuring the vascular supply, is essential.