Preservation of the ischemic leg by distal vascular bypass.

Autogenous saphenous vein bypass grafts to tibial or personeal vessels have resulted in successful, long-term limb preservation in appropriately selected patients. This success appears to justify an aggressive approach to what has previously been considered end-stage" distal vascular occlusive disease. This report describes the clinical management and long-term follow-up of 41 patients with tibial artery reconstruction.