The fate of unrevised stenoses in infrainguinal autologous vein grafts as detected by intraoperative duplex scanning

Intraoperative infrainguinal autologous vein graft stenoses are common, and some authors advise revision of these stenoses. But the natural history of these lesions is not clear. This study was undertaken to determine the natural history of duplex-detected intraoperative stenoses with a nonrevision policy. Intraoperative duplex scanning was performed in 46 infrainguinal autologous vein bypasses. The surgeon was blinded for the results of the intraoperative duplex scan and no intraoperative graft revision or modification of the routine postoperative protocol was performed after the duplex scan. Intraoperative duplex parameters and patient and bypass characteristics were correlated with the occurrence of an early graft event (occlusion or revision of a patent graft within 6 weeks postoperatively), which was the study's primary endpoint. Early graft event rate was 37% (17/46). PSV ratio and PSV-max were the only parameters with a significant correlation with the occurrence of an early graft event. An intraoperatively measured PSV ratio of > or =3.0 was the best predictor of an early graft failure with a sensitivity of 71% (95% CI: 50-83%) and a specificity of 90% (95% CI: 78-97%). In 12 of the 15 (80%) grafts matching this criterion an early graft event occurred, while only 5 (16%) early graft events occurred in the remaining 31 grafts (ie, a negative predictive value of 84%). When a PSV ratio of > or =3.0 was used as a cutoff value to predict early postoperative graft events, the likelihood ratios for a positive and negative test result were respectively 6.82 (95% CI: 2.23-20.8) and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.16-0.69). Unrevised intraoperative duplex-detected stenoses in infrainguinal autologous vein graft stenoses are a serious threat to early graft patency. The presence of an intraoperatively detected graft stenosis with a PSV ratio > or =3.0 is a strong predictor of early graft failure