A "crotch-shaped" autologous vascular graft in reconstruction of the defect of main artery in popliteal fossa to rebuild blood supply of lower extremities: a report of 10 cases
10.3760/cma.j.cn441206-20241118-00250
- VernacularTitle:"裤衩式"自体血管移植修复腘窝部主干动脉缺损重建下肢血运临床应用10例
- Author:
Jiusong WANG
1
;
Changxiong LIU
1
;
Songlin XIE
1
;
Chenhao ZHANG
1
;
Yanming CHEN
1
Author Information
1. 南华大学附属南华医院手足外科,衡阳 421002
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Vascular graft;
Crotch-shaped;
Large blood vessels of extremities;
Popliteal artery;
Great saphenous vein;
Small saphenous vein
- From:
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery
2025;48(4):412-416
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the effect of autologous vascular graft bridging of the popliteal artery defect to reconstruct the blood supply of leg on survival of lower extremity.Methods:From May 2021 to May 2024, 10 patients with traumatic popliteal artery injury with defect were treated in the Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Nanhua Hospital Affiliated to University of South China. A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of the patients. Injury sites were: 6 in left lower extremity and 4 in right lower extremity. Causes of injury were: 4 of traffic accident, 2 of heavy object compression, 2 of electric saw, and 2 of falling from heights. Sixe patients had large vessel injury combined with fracture and (or) knee dislocation, and 4 had simple large vessel injury. Six patients had open vascular injury and 4 had closed vascular injury. There were 6 popliteal artery defect and 4 femoral artery defect, with the defects ranging from 5.0 to 10.0 cm in length. Based on the condition of the arterial defect, autologous great saphenous vein (9 patient) and small saphenous vein (1 patient) were taken and prepared to different forms of vascular bridging graft, such as "single crotch-shape" (6 patient), "double crotch-shape" (3 patient) and "triple crotch-shaped" (1 patient) vascular bridging grafts, to have the defects of popliteal artery reconstructed. Scheduled postoperative follow-up was conducted at outpatient clinic and via telephone interviews. Detailed outcomes including the peripheral blood flow, presence of necrosis or ulcer as well as patient satisfaction were recorded.Results:All of the blood vessel anastomoses in 10 patients were successful and the distal blood supply of the affected legs was restored. All of the affective legs survived. Postoperative follow-ups at 3 to 12 months showed good blood flow in the legs without necrosis nor ulcer as well as a high patient satisfaction.Conclusion:The "crotch-shaped" autologous blood vessel graft can timely and effectively reconstruct defected main artery in popliteal fossa, reduce ischemia time of the affected leg, promote extremity survival and restore its function.
