Disruption in “Nonanastomotic Section” of an Axillofemoral Bypass: A Thorough Critical Review of the Literature

This work is a thorough nonsystematic critical review (PubMed/MEDLINE 1950-September 2016) of “disruption in nonanastomotic section of an axillofemoral bypass.” Fourteen cases were selected (including that provided by the authors of this publication) dating from 1963 to 2016 (53 years). This type of disruption is a very unusual complication in the axillofemoral bypass. The cases described reveal that this disorder is more frequent in unifemoral bypass (9 cases), in ringed polytetrafluorethylene, in blunt trauma, and at costal level especially on the left side. The mean age of the patients was 65.2 (38-83) years, and the men:women ratio was 2:2. The usual symptom was a false aneurysm (10 cases). Although the imaging diagnosis of the first cases was done by arteriography, computed tomography is currently more used. The usual treatment (7 cases) consisted in the resection of the affected segment and the interposition of the new prosthesis. Furthermore, 2 cases treated with coated stent have been described, as well as 1 case of femorofemoral bypass, 1 of suture, and 1 of exeresis without revascularization. One patient refused surgery, and there was as a case where the treatment was unknown. The evolution in the short term is satisfactory, with no perioperative mortality registered.