Occlusive disease of the femoropopliteal artery is now commonly treated with an autogenous, saphenous vein bypass graft. Excision and reversal of the vein has been the most frequently employed technique. An alternative method first described by Rob,1 utilizing the in situ, nonreversed saphenous vein, has yielded satisfactory results.
To evaluate possible advantages,2 we used the in situ saphenous vein for femoropopliteal arterial reconstruction in 25 instances. This is a report of the results of these 25 arterial reconstructions which are compared with 25 similar reconstructions using reversed saphenous vein.
Methods
Fifty consecutive femoropopliteal arterial reconstructions were performed from August 1965 to January 1968. In situ grafts were used from November 1965 to May 1967. There was patient selection in that initially there was higher enthusiasm for use of the in situ saphenous vein. Average age in the "in situ group" was 67 (range of 51 to 81 years)