Preoperative assessment of the peripheral vascular disease patient for free tissue transfers.

Lower extremity reconstruction or salvage in patients with severe peripheral vascular disease is a unique challenge, requiring knowledge of the vascular anatomy, including the location of intraluminal irregularities and stenoses. In a retrospective study that includes four case reports, the authors describe the impressive ability of the Duplex imaging system, to assist in the proper selection of recipient vessels and of those areas within the vessels most suitable for anastomoses.