Vascular reconstruction in Buerger's disease: is it feasible?

Purpose: Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) is a clinical syndrome characterized by segmental occlusions of the distal vessels. Although a cessation of using nicotine products usually helps, nevertheless a surgical revascularization may be needed in cases of stage III and IV limbs. Because of the distal and segmental nature of the disease, these procedures are rarely feasible. This article focuses on the feasibility of performing a vascular reconstruction in thromboangiitis obliterans.

Methods: Thirty-six of 94 patients (38.3%) who were followed by the Peripheral Vascular Unit of Istanbul Medical Faculty were selected for revascularization and 27 of 36 (81%) patients underwent revascularization procedures.

Results: During a 36-month follow-up, the patency rates at the 12th, 24th, and 36th months were 59.2%, 48%, and 33.3%, respectively. The limb salvage rate was 92.5%.

Conclusions: Since patients affected by Buerger's disease consist a group of young population who are still in their productive stages, every effort should be taken to obtain a limb salvage in the ischemic period. Although the patency rates do not seem promising, the limb salvation rate was quite satisfactory.