[Experiences with the Sparks-prosthesis in the periphery (author's transl)].

According to our own experiences it is not advisable to implant the Sparks-Mandril in an extremity which gangrene. The ideal case for implantation is the patient with short walking distance and an unsuitable vena saphena magna. The prothesis is useful for the femoro-crural bypass procedure. The thrombogenicity of the Mandril can be neglected by heparinization of the patient or after careful perfusion of the prothesis.