Surgical stimulation of angiogenesis

ObjectiveThe results of surgical approaches are unsatisfactory in patients with a distal arterial bed that is ineligible for revascularization. In this retrospective study, we investigated outcomes in patients who underwent surgical interventions that are reported to induce angiogenesis.Method6 patients diagnosed with thromboangiitis obliterans were included in this study. Of these 6 patients, 2 underwent femoropopliteal bypass surgery using reversed great saphenous vein as a conduit. The other 4 underwent ascending venous arterialization (bypass from the popliteal artery to the great saphenous vein at the level of medial malleolus, using reversed great saphenous vein).ResultsDuring the early postoperative period, all of the reversed saphenous vein grafts were occluded. The mean postoperative ankle-brachial index increased from 0.33 to 0.83. During the postoperative period, intermittent claudication disappeared in all patients. Angiograms taken during the postoperative period showed evidence of neovascula...