Evaluating the Efficacy of Common Femoral Endarterectomy With Profundoplasty: A Three-Year Single-Center Perspective

Background: This study aims to synthesise recent findings on the outcomes of common femoral endarterectomy (CFE) with profundoplasty, evaluating the efficacy, complications, and predictors of long-term success in patients undergoing this procedure.

Patients and methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study assessing the outcomes of CFE with profundoplasty. All patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) who attended and underwent CFE with profundoplasty with or without iliac intervention at Glan Clwyd Hospital (Wales, United Kingdom) were studied. We excluded the patients who had the CFE as part of bypass surgery.

Results: In a period of three years, 77 patients were included. Forty-six (59.7%) of them were male, and 31 (40.3%) of them were female. The mean age was 73.3 ± 7.8 years (standard deviation). Regarding the comorbidity, hypertension and smoking were recorded for most of the patients, while the other comorbidities were less frequent. The majority of the patients are presented with rest pain 70.1% (n = 54), while the remainder has both rest pain and tissue loss. Forty patients (51.9%) had CFE as part of the hybrid operation with iliac angioplasty; however, only 37 patients (48.1%) had CFE. The most reported complications postoperatively were groin infection, hospital-acquired pneumonia, and thrombosis, with less reporting for the rest of the complications. The limb salvage rate was 74% (n = 57); moreover, the mean primary patency rate was 10.7 + 8.4 months SD.

Conclusion: The CFE is a feasible operation, either isolated or in conjunction with iliac angioplasty, with a satisfactory patency rate. It can be offered to the high-risk group of patients. However, they are going to need a rigorous follow-up to avoid or minimise postoperative complications.