Stenosis of reverse great saphenous vein graft in infrainguinal arterial revascularization.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hemodynamically significant infrainguinal bypasses stenosis using reverse great saphenous vein graft. METHODS From March of 2008 to March of 2009, 56 infrainguinal bypasses were performed with reverse great saphenous vein graft in 56 patients. On the 30th post-operative day, 32 out of 56 patients were submitted to vascular ultrasonography. The prevalence of significant graft stenosis was determined. In addition, the diagnosis of stenosis was related to the clinical and surgical characteristics of the patients. The variables analyzed at the moment of diagnosis were the localization of the graft stenosis, the risk factors associated with stenosis and the association of vascular ultrasonography findings with ankle brachial pressure index (ABI). RESULTS The overall prevalence of significant graft stenosis was 48.4%. Out of the total number of observed stenosis, 19.4% were considered severe, and 29% mild or moderate. There was no significant association between the presence of significant stenosis and the following variables: gender, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, hipercholesterolemia, graft diameter, site of the distal anastomosis, and graft composition. There was a weak agreement between ABI and vascular ultrasonography in detecting stenosis in general (K = 0.30; CL95% 0.232 - 0.473; p = 0.018). However, there was a substantial agreement in detecting severe stenosis (K = 0.75; CL95% 0.655 - 0.811; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION There was a high prevalence of stenosis on the 30th post-operative day, mostly localized in the proximal half of the vein graft. There was no significant association of stenosis with clinical and surgical factors analyzed. ABI and vascular ultrasonography had weak agreement with the diagnosis of stenosis in general and an important agreement for the diagnosis of severe stenosis.