Below-Knee Prosthetic Bypass Is a Viable Option for Limb Salvage in Patients with Extensive Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease
	    		
		   		
		   			
		   		
	    	
    	- Author:
	        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Younghye KIM
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        			1
			        			
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Ji Hyun JUNG
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Deokbi HWANG
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Woo-Sung YUN
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Seung HUH
			        		
			        		;
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		Hyung-Kee KIM
			        		
			        		
		        		
		        		
		        		
			        		
			        		Author Information
			        		
 - Publication Type:Original Article
 - From:Vascular Specialist International 2023;39(2):16-
 - CountryRepublic of Korea
 - Language:English
 - 
		        	Abstract:
			       	
			       		
				        
				        	 Purpose:This study aimed to (1) evaluate the outcomes of below-knee prosthetic bypass (BKPB) in the absence of the great saphenous vein, and (2) identify risk factors associated with these outcomes. 
				        	
Materials and Methods:This study included 37 consecutive patients who underwent BKPB with or without distal modification between 2010 and 2022. We further assessed the following treatment outcomes: primary patency (PP), secondary patency (SP), limb salvage (LS), and amputation-free survival (AFS) rates. The risk factors for PP were also examined.
Results:Most patients (n=31) were male. In 32 (86.5%) patients, BKPBs were performed for chronic limb-threatening ischemia. At the time of initial admission, two (5.4%) early deaths and three (8.1%) major amputations were noted. At 1 year after BKPB, the overall PP, SP, LS, and AFS rates were 78%, 85%, 85%, and 70%, respectively; at 3 years, they were 58%, 70%, 80%, and 52%, respectively; and at 5 years, they were 35%, 58%, 62%, and 29%, respectively. Notably, PP was significantly lower in limbs with ≤1 patent tibial arteries than in limbs with ≥2 patent artery (hazard ratio [HR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-12.69 for overall; and HR, 12.97; 95% CI, 2.15-78.08 for distal anastomosis to below-knee popliteal artery). However, the PP was unaffected by the distal modification.
Conclusion:BKPB is a viable option for LS in patients with extensive femoropopliteal disease. Tibial runoff was significantly correlated with patency; therefore, decision-making for BKPB and follow-up must involve careful evaluation of the outflow arteries. 
            