Effect of infrainguinal bypass tunneling technique on patency and amputation in patients with limb ischemia.

Objective: We investigated the association of tunneling technique on patency and amputation in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass for limb ischemia.

Methods: The National Vascular Quality Initiative database infrainguinal bypass module from 2008 to 2017 was queried for analysis. We excluded cases with non-great saphenous vein grafts, grafts using multiple segments, aneurysmal disease indications, bypass locations outside the femoral to below the knee popliteal artery or tibial arteries, and missing data on tunneling type and limb ischemia.