[Femoro-crural reconstruction in preference to amputation (author's transl)]

22 cases of arterial occlusion below the branching of the popliteal artery and 1 case of traumatic subtotal amputation of the calf were revascularized by autogenous femoro-crural vein bypasses. All patients had pain at rest and/or gangrene. So far, with an average bypass patency of 15 months in two of three equal parts of the operated legs, the decision to try reconstruction instead to amputate has met with successful results. The operative technique is described in detail and the speical problems of this group of patients and the particular difficulties of this technically sophisticated bypass procedure are discussed.