Limb Salvage in Octagenarians— A 4 Year Review

Abstract

The records of 12 consecutive patients over 80 years of age who were operated on for limb threatening lower extremity ischemic vascular disease were reviewed. Mean age was 82.7 years. All patients underwent abdominal peripheral angiography. Fourteen operative procedures were performed in the 12 patients. Ten patients required 1 operation and 2 patients required 2 opera tions. An attempt was made to perform the least major operative procedure possible because of the age and poor medical condition of the patient popula tion. Procedures included femoral-femoral bypass-5, aorto-femoral bypass-2, axillary-femoral bypass-1, femoral-tibial bypass-2, and femoral-distal popliteal bypass-2. Secondary procedures included axillary-femoral bypass in 1 patient and a femoral-popliteal bypass in 1 patient. There was 1 post-operative mortal ity and 1 major post-operative amputation. Six patients are alive from 3 months to 4 years post-op. Although several digital amputations have been performed, there have been no major amputations. None of the 4 late deaths have been due to the complications of ischemic lower extremity vascular disease.