Femorodistal bypass grafting: quality of life and socioeconomic aspects.

Abstract

To investigate the socioeconomic aspects and the outcome of femorodistal bypass grafting operations in terms of general health state. Prospective open clinical study. 168 operations in 153 patients. A structured questionnaire was used to assess quality of life, and each patient was classified into a health state group defined by levels of disability and distress. Before operation 23 patients were actively employed, 96 were old age pensioners, 29 received invalidity pension, and five were long term sick. 80% were living in their own home without any help. Only 19 patients were actively employed at follow up, 12 of these had been working before the operation, and seven other patients had taken up paid work. About three-quarters of the patients could manage daily life without help after the operation, and 82% had no or only mild distress. There were significant changes with respect to physical mobility in all groups and emotional status in one group. In all other cases a significant change could not be shown. The median Quality of Life score at follow up was 0.986 (n = 102, variance 0.022). The immediate costs were 1.5 million pounds. The classification into disability and distress groups was informative, but the methods for assessment of the results of vascular surgery on quality of life, evaluation of patient satisfaction and of patients' expectations must be further developed.