Clinical outcomes after infrainguinal bypass grafting for critical limb ischaemia in patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal failure.

OBJECTIVE To assess and risk-stratify the medium-term clinical outcomes after infrainguinal bypass grafting (IBG) to treat critical limb ischaemia (CLI) in patients with end-stage renal disease. METHODS This was a retrospective single-centre study. Between April 2007 and March 2011, 112 limbs from 89 patients were studied. In particular, amputation-free survival (AFS), 30 day mortality, freedom from major adverse limb events (MALE), limb salvage, and overall survival were examined. The aim was to identify outcome predictors. RESULTS Eight patients (9%) died within 30 days of IBG. The only positive predictor of 30-day mortality was an ejection fraction (EF) < 40% (hazard ratio [HR] 5.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-26.83; p = .03). The mean follow-up duration was 14 months. The 1- and 2-year AFS rates were 64% and 43%, respectively, and the rates of freedom from MALE were 81% and 77%, respectively. In addition, the 1- and 2-year limb salvage rates were 89% and 85%, and the survival rates were 68% and 50%, respectively. Non-ambulatory status was negatively associated with AFS (HR 3.04, 95% CI 1.59-5.82; p < .01), freedom from MALE (HR 4.98, 95% CI 1.91-12.96; p < .01), and limb salvage (HR 5.18, 95% CI 1.47-18.30; p = .01). The other negative predictors of overall survival were a serum albumin level <3.0 g/dL (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.12-4.58; p = .02) and an EF <40% (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.05-4.79; p = .04). CONCLUSION Patients with CLI on dialysis enjoyed satisfactory freedom from MALE and limb salvage, but survival and AFS were significantly less than reported for IBG in patients with CLI who did not receive dialysis. In addition, patients with an EF <40%, lower serum albumin (<3.0 g/dL), or non-ambulatory status experienced particularly poor clinical outcomes after IBG.