[Venous bypass: gold standard with excellent results]

Since 1974 we have performed 1104 in situ vein bypasses for the reconstruction of femoropopliteal or femorotibial occlusions. The venous valves were made incompetent by using our Insitucut. An intraoperative completion angiography is mandatory. The primary cumulative patency rate is 93.5% at one year and 64.9% at five years. The permeability is depending on the quality of the outflow tract. The patency of femoropopliteal in situ bypasses with a three vessel runoff is 82.2% at five years, whereas bypasses with a single vessel runoff show a patency of 56%. The own results are comparable with the results of reversed and non-reversed vein bypasses given in the literature.