Influence of risk factors (cigarette smoking, hypertension and hyperlipidemia) on prognosis and long term results of reconstructive vascular surgery

The aim of the present study, in which 186 patients were followed 2 to 9 years after surgical reconstruction, is to demonstrate the influence of some factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cigarette smoking) and long term patency of surgical treament of aorto-iliac occlusive disease. The data seem to indicate a direct correlation between persistance of the considered risk factors present at the time of operation and late postoperative failures of the arterial reconstructions. These data, (recorded in all our patients), contribute to a better understanding of the different rates of progression of the disease in each patient and consequently long term results of the surgical treatment.