Outcome of lower limb distal bypass in Afro-Caribbean populations.

There is little data on outcome following lower limb bypass surgery in ethnic minorities in the United Kingdom. We looked at the results of distal bypass surgery in Afro-Caribbeans (AFCs) and compared it to caucasians (CAs). Patients undergoing distal bypass between 2004 and 2009 were analyzed. Life table analyses and log rank were used to compare graft patency and amputation-free survival. A total of 86 CA and 39 AFC patients, with a median age of 78 years and 73 years, respectively (P = .01), underwent bypass. There were more women in AFC groups (41.1%) compared to CA group (19.2%, P = .01). Tissue loss as indication for surgery was more in AFC than in CA group (92.3% vs73.9%, P = .03). Primary, primary-assisted and secondary patency rates, and amputation-free survival at 12 months for AFCs compared to CAs (51.3 vs 44.6; 85.2 vs 80.9; 91.2 vs 84.4; and 84.9 vs 75.1). Graft patency after lower limb distal revascularization in AFCs is comparable to CAs.