Duplex scanning as the sole preoperative imaging method for infrainguinal arterial surgery.

Abstract

to evaluate preoperative duplex as the sole investigation prior to lower limb reconstruction. Design retrospective analysis. between January 1995 and December 1999, 157 of 329 surgical interventions for chronic infrainguinal arterial or aneurysmal disease were performed without preoperative angiography. in patients undergoing femoral artery endarterectomy, the extent of the stenosis and the status of the distal deep femoral artery were correctly diagnosed with duplex scanning in all but one patient. Duplex scan findings in patients undergoing infrainguinal bypass procedures were in agreement with the findings obtained from on-table angiography in regard to the selection of optimal outflow anastomotic sites in 123 (98%). Duplex scanning correctly evaluated the status of runoff in 113 (90%). There were no significant differences in 30-day occlusion rate and patency at 12 months between reconstructions performed with and without preoperative angiography. in patients with conclusive duplex scan findings there is no need to perform angiography prior to lower limb reconstruction.