[In situ venous bypass in femoro-tibial arterial reconstruction].

We present the results of 26 consecutive patients operated because of rest pain or threatened loss of limb. The great saphenous vein was used in situ as femoro-tibial arterial bypass. Destruction of the vein valves was performed using an intraluminal valve cutter mounted on a fogarty catheter. Three bypasses occluded during the observation period which lasted for 24 +/- seven months (mean +/- standard deviation). Seven patients died from heart disease. Our results indicate that one should not hesitate to perform surgery on patients with rest pain or gangrene. The in situ method used in the present study seems to be the technique of choice in treating these patients.