Perioperative outcomes of elective inflow revascularization for lower extremity claudication in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Abstract Background We compared the early postoperative morbidity and mortality rates of contemporary aortofemoral bypass (AFB) and other inflow procedures for claudication. Methods We identified 1974 claudicants who underwent elective AFB ( n = 566) or non-AFB (nonaortofemoral bypass [NAFB]; n = 1408) inflow reconstruction using the ACS-NSQIP database (2005 to 2012). Stent placement was not routinely captured. In propensity score–matched cohorts, we analyzed the association between type of inflow surgery and 30-day postoperative outcomes. Results Among 824 propensity score–matched patients (AFB, n = 412; NAFB, n = 412), the 30-day mortality rate was 2.7% for AFB and .0% for NAFB ( P = .0008). NAFB conferred significantly lower rates of major cardiac (.2% vs 2.4%, P = .0063), respiratory (.7% vs 10.9%, P P = .0380), and septic (.5% vs 3.6%, P = .0014) complications, and fewer returns to the operating room (4.6% vs 9.9%, P = .0032), compared with AFB. Rates of major venous thrombosis, wound complications, peripheral nerve injury, and graft failure were similar between the groups. Conclusions This study reports a higher contemporary short-term complication rate with AFB compared to alternative inflow revascularization, against which future study of long-term durability may be weighed.