The current status of femoropopliteal bypass grafting

Results of saphenous vein bypass grafts for femoral occlusive disease justify their use in the management of patients with threatened limb loss and in selected patients with intermittent claudication. Early results with PTFE and umbilical vein grafts indicate that successful bypass is feasible in patients with absent or inadequate saphenous veins. Currently, however, long-term follow-up with these new grafts is lacking and continued use of saphenous vein grafts whenever possible is preferred.