We conclude that vascular stents can be implanted into the femoropopliteal arteries with few complications and with acceptable early and intermediate patency rates, without the need for long-term anticoagulation. Restenosis is not prevented by stents, and the main value of stenting at this site appears to be in salvaging acute complications of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, or to correct suboptimal results after recanalization of occluded arteries.

No abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of duplex ~ offe~o¢ofemo~ venous crossover grafts (Palma-Dale operation) for postthrombotlc tmilaterll occlusion of the lilac vein. Twenty-four patients, 14 men and l0 women with a mean age of 50 years (range 24 to 72 years), were subjected to duplex imaging and phkbography a mean of 5 years after surgery. Scanning was done with patients in an erect ~.A graft was reported as patent if it met the following criteria: it could be ~ in continuity, it could be compressed by the scan probe, and blood flow varied ~ ~ and was augmented by thigh compression on the symptomatic side. P'~y indicated that 20 grafxs were patent and 17 of these were correctly identified with ~ SCannln~.Three scans were false negative in obese patients in whom the graft ~ not be ~ Four grafts, not imaged, were confirmed by phlebography to be occluded. Compared with phlebography, duplex scanning had a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 100%, and overall accuracy of 88%. Duplex scanning is a safe and accurate way to determine patency after femorofemoral venous bypass if the criteria for patency are fidfilled. If not, the true status of the graft must still be established by phlebography.

No abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of duplex imaging of femorofemoral venous crossover grafts (Palma-Dale operation) for postthrombotic unilateral occlusion of the iliac vein. Twenty-four patients, 14 men and 10 women with a mean age of 50 years (range 24 to 72 years), were subjected to duplex imaging and phlebography a mean of 5 years after surgery. Scanning was done with patients in an erect position. A graft was reported as patient if it met the following criteria: it could be imaged in continuity, it could be compressed by the scan probe, and blood flow varied with respiration and was augmented by thigh compression on the symptomatic side. Phlebography indicated that 20 grafts were patent and 17 of these were correctly identified with duplex scanning. Three scans were false negative in obese patients in whom the graft could not be imaged. Four grafts, not imaged, were confirmed by phlebography to be occluded. Compared with phlebography, duplex scanning had a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 100%, and overall accuracy of 88%. Duplex scanning is safe and accurate way to determine patency after femorofemoral venous bypass if the criteria for patency are fulfilled. If not, the true status of the graft must still be established by phlebography.