Follow-up and its Importance for Long-term Pedal Bypass Functionality

Abstract

Pedal bypasses, for salvage of a critically ischaemic limb, demonstrate excellent long-term outcomes. However, regular follow-up of patients and timely detection and treatment of a contingent haemodynamically significant bypass stenosis, which could cause its thrombosis, are prerequisites.

The authors report a case of femoropedal bypass graft in which regular duplex follow-up detected critical stenoses at 18 months and at 36 months. Patch-angioplasty (at 18 months) and percutaneous balloon angioplasty (at 36 months) preserved the long-term patency of this pedal bypass graft.

Key Words:

• Pedal bypass
• follow-up
• percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
• angiography
• Echo-Doppler
• critical limb ischaemia

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R. Staffa

Robert Staffa, M.D., Ph.D. 2nd Department of Surgery St. Anne’s Teaching Hospital Brno Pekarská 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic Tel.: [phone] Fax: [phone] Mobile: [phone] E-mail: [email protected]