Dacron femoral-popliteal bypass grafts in good-risk claudicant patients.

Purpose: To evaluate prosthetic femoral-popliteal (FP) grafts as bypass conduits in favorable patients with refractory calf claudication.

Setting: University-affiliated urban teaching hospital.

Methods: Cohort study of patency of 6-mm Dacron FP grafts used to treat patients with medically refractory calf claudication meeting the following criteria: nonsmoker; above-knee popliteal artery as an appropriate target vessel; > or =2-vessel tibial outflow; and postoperative anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy.

Recurrent neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome.

Background: Although 90% of patients with neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) experience "excellent" or "good" results after thoracic outlet decompression, recurrent symptoms may develop in certain patients.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients with NTOS who developed recurrent symptoms of upper extremity/shoulder/neck pain, weakness and limitation of motion at least 3 months after initial relief of symptoms by surgical decompression. Diagnostic procedures and outcomes of reoperative surgery were assessed.

Operative management of distal ischemia complicating upper extremity dialysis access.

Background: Ischemia distal to a functioning arteriovenous dialysis access is an infrequent but potentially serious complication that can be difficult to manage while maintaining access patency.

Methods: Retrospective review was made of all patients requiring operative intervention for dialysis access-induced distal ischemia from 1998 to 2002 in a tertiary vascular surgery referral practice.

Results: Twelve patients had 13 hands with ischemic changes requiring intervention after placement of hemodialysis access.