复合血管与倒置大隐静脉旁路移植治疗严重慢性下肢缺血的对比研究

目的比较复合血管序贯式下肢动脉旁路术和倒置自体大隐静脉旁路术治疗严重慢性下肢缺血的效果。方法回顾性分析采用复合式血管(25例)及倒置自体大隐静脉(16例)旁路移植术治疗的41例严重慢性下肢缺血患者的临床资料。复合血管用聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)人工血管及自体静脉组合而成。人工血管近心端与股总动脉吻合,远端与孤立腘动脉吻合;自体静脉从PTFE血管远端发出并与小腿的胫或腓动脉吻合。倒置自体大隐静脉旁路术采用同侧大隐静脉作为血管桥。比较两者血管桥的累积通畅率和保肢率。结果平均随访18.7个月。男29例,女12例。平均年龄(67±10.4)岁。FontaineⅢ级23例,FontaineⅣ级18例。复合血管组中自体静脉远端吻合口止于胫前动脉5例,胫后动脉14例,腓动脉6例;倒置大隐静脉移植组中10例吻合口止于胫后动脉,3例腓动脉,3例胫前动脉。复合血管组踝肱指数术前为0.24±0.14,术后为0.68±0.22(P=0.000)。倒置大隐静脉组平均踝肱指数术前为0.24±0.14,术后为0.68±0.22(P=0.000)。复合血管术后1,2,3年首次通畅率分别为78%,72%,61%;二期通畅率分别为83%,76%,6...     

复合血管序贯式旁路移植术治疗慢性肢体缺血的临床分析

目的:探讨复合血管序贯式下肢动脉旁路术治疗慢性下肢缺血的效果。方法:回顾性分析3年内采用复合式血管序贯式动脉血管重建的25例慢性下肢缺血患者的临床资料。复合血管由聚四氟乙烯（PTFE）人工血管及自体静脉组合而成。PTFE近心端与股总动脉吻合，远端与孤立腘动脉吻合；自体静脉从PTFE血管远端发出并与小腿的胫或腓动脉吻合。结果:自体静脉远端吻合口止于胫前动脉5例，胫后动脉8例，腓动脉12例。术后1，2，3年累积通畅率分别为78%， 72%， 61%。二期累积通畅率分别为83%，77%，68%。救肢率分别为83%，83%，73%。结论:复合血管序贯旁路术治疗慢性肢体缺血远期通畅率较高，具有较好的救肢效果，是解决自体静脉不足的合理选择。     

动脉旁路手术治疗慢性下肢缺血的中远期结果

目的 探讨慢性下肢缺血的动脉旁路治疗的中远期效果.方法 回顾性分析2002年1月至2007年4月212例经动脉旁路治疗的慢性下肢缺血患者的临床资料.治疗方式包括股.膝上腘动脉旁路111例,股-膝下胭动脉旁路59例,主-髂动脉旁路25例,股股转流17例.结果 术后186例(87.7%)获随访6～68个月(中位随访期18个月),股-膝上胭动脉旁路术与股-膝下胭动脉旁路术1年初次通畅率分别为69.7%、53.5%,二次累计通畅率为81.6%、60.5%,两者差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);其3年通畅率分别为56.3%和23.8%,两者差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);腹主-髂股旁路与股一膝上胭动脉旁路及股股转流术近远期通畅率差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).随访期内52例患者行二次手术,23例行膝上或膝下截肢,保肢率为89.2%.围手术期死亡10例(4.7%),随访死亡20例,多数死于心脑血管原发疾病;人工血管感染6例.结论 根据患者病情选用适当的旁路手术方式,可取得满意的效果.股-膝上腘动脉旁路中、远期通畅率高于股-膝下胭动脉旁路,两者近期通畅率无差异.     

远端流出道不良致严重下肢缺血39例的旁路移植术分析

目的探讨严重下肢缺血动脉的旁路移植手术方法 ,以挽救肢体避免截肢或降低截肢平面。方法 39例共 4 5条下肢仅有小腿单支流出道动脉的患者接受了动脉旁路移植手术。主要方式为股动脉 动脉人工血管 小腿动脉自体血管旁路移植术 2 1条 (4 6 7% )和动脉 小腿动脉旁路移植 10条 (2 2 2 % )。结果 39例患者中 ,1例术后第 5天因呼吸功能衰竭死亡 ,围手术期死亡率为 2 6 % ;围手术期移植血管闭塞 1例 (2 6 % ) ,手术成功率 97 4 %。出院时血管通畅率 10 0 % ,足部创面的愈合率 30 %。结论采用下肢远端动脉旁路移植治疗由仅有小腿单支流出道动脉供血的严重下肢缺血 ,可以挽救肢体或降低截肢平面 ,还可以为足部创面的愈合提供较好的营养环境。     

血栓闭塞性脉管炎合并动脉硬化闭塞导致下肢缺血的手术治疗

目的 探讨下肢血栓闭塞性脉管炎(thmmboangiitis obliterans,TAO)合并动脉硬化闭塞症(arteriosclerosis obliterans,ASO)手术治疗效果.方法 回顾性分析2007年治疗的TAO合并ASO 6例患者的资料.2例行腹主动脉切开取栓+内膜剥脱+腹主动脉-股深动脉人工血管旁路移植-胭动脉人工血管-小腿动脉自体大隐静脉旁路移植术,1例行腹主动脉切开取栓+内膜剥脱+腹主动脉-右股深动脉人工血管旁路移植-膝下胭动脉人工血管旁路移植术;1例行左髂总动脉-左股深动脉人工血管旁路移植一胫前动脉自体大隐静脉原位移植术,1例行左侧人工血管切开取栓+左股深动脉成形-膝下腘动脉人工血管旁路移植术,1例行右股总动脉-左股总动脉人工血管旁路移植-胫后动脉自体大隐静脉旁路移植术.结果 5例患者术后恢复顺利,1例于术后当天出现股动脉-腘动脉人工血管和远段的大隐静脉桥血栓形成,立即再次手术行人工血管和大隐静脉切开取栓术,并同时行胫后动静脉吻合.6例患者均痊愈出院,无死亡病例.5例患者的下肢远端静息痛完全缓解,1例部分缓解.足部溃疡的2例创面明显缩小,无感染发生.所有患者得到随访,平均随访为6.5个月,3例足部溃疡愈合.1例术后3个月出现左股部切口感染,最终行膝上截肢处理,残端一期愈合.其他5例患者的移植血管通畅,症状缓解.结论 对TAO合并ASO患者如果手术治疗方式恰当,可以取得比较好的疗效.     

小腿动脉为流出道的股-小腿动脉或股-腘-小腿动脉旁路术随访分析

.9%.保肢患者中重症下肢缺血占13.0%,随访时踝肱指数足背动脉0.66±0.26,胫后动脉0.64±0.25,与术前和术后相比差异均有统计学意义.自体静脉和复合血管、股-小腿动脉直接旁路和股-腘-小腿动脉序贯旁路在保肢率和旁路血管通畅率上差异无统计学意义.结论 以小腿动脉为流出道的旁路术对于腔内治疗失败或长段、多节段动脉闭塞濒临截肢者是有效的治疗方法 .加强术后随访和早期干预有助于提高二期通畅率和保肢率.     

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目的 探讨糖尿病足外科旁路移植的方法。方法 2000-2002年46例2型糖尿病病人，52条下肢接受了动脉旁路移植手术。主要方式为腘动脉-小腿动脉旁路移植16条(30．8％)和股动脉-腘动脉人工血管-单支小腿动脉自体血管旁路移植术15条(28．9％)，其次为腘动脉-单支小腿动脉一足背动脉自体血管旁路移植术7条(13．5％)。结果 46例病人中，2例因术后呼吸功能衰竭死亡，手术成功率95．7％，救肢率98．0％，出院时血管通畅率100％，足部创面的愈合率44．5％。结论 糖尿病足作为糖尿病的一种严重并发症，是可以通过下肢远端动脉旁路移植而获得较好的疗效；不仅可以挽救肢体或降低截肢平面，而且可以为足部创面的愈合提供一个较好的营养环境。     

下肢股-腘动脉旁路移植附加小腿大隐静脉动脉化治疗严重糖尿病足八例分析

目的探讨下肢股-腘动脉旁路移植附加小腿大隐静脉动脉化治疗严重糖尿病足的疗效。方法分析2004年9月至2006年8月治疗的8例糖尿病足患者的临床资料,糖尿病史平均为10.5年。8例8条患肢均有疼痛,足部溃疡有3例,足部坏疽5例;ABI在0.1～0.5之间有4例,ABI为0有4例;7例患者接受皮肤温度检查,平均为28.6℃。所有患者下肢股浅动脉闭塞;腘动脉部分通畅;6例小腿动脉（胫前动脉、胫后动脉和腓动脉）完全闭塞,2例小腿动脉大部分闭塞,有部分主干通畅,但是管径细无法行动脉旁路移植。8例均先行股-腘动脉旁路移植,然后将小腿近段的大隐静脉的分支全部结扎,保留踝部的静脉分支,将小腿近端大隐静脉切断并将其瓣膜破坏,然后再与股-腘动脉旁路移植血管的远段吻合在一起。结果手术全部成功。足部疼痛缓解5例,明显减轻2例,1例足部疼痛无缓解。7例的皮肤温度平均增加到35.8℃。ABI（ankle brachial index）平均增加了0.42。3例足部溃疡均有明显缩小;5例坏疽创面中3例的感染得到了控制。随访时间平均为10个月,5例足部疼痛缓解,1例仍感疼痛,2例足部疼痛复发;3例溃疡创面愈合;5例坏疽的下肢中3例行膝下截肢,2例经过清除足部坏疽组织后保留足根。结论对于糖尿病足流出道严重不良造成的严重下肢缺血者,在无法进行下肢动脉旁路移植、下肢动脉介入术,或者下肢动脉旁路移植、介入手术失败者,股动脉-腘动脉人工血管-小腿大隐静脉动脉化是救肢的治疗方法之一。     

股腘动脉闭塞症的手术治疗

目的 探讨股腘动脉旁路移植术治疗下肢动脉硬化闭塞症(C、D级病变)的近中期疗效.方法 2005年1月至2009年2月,170例患者(191条肢体)行股动脉以远血管重建术.其中男性108例,女性62例;年龄45～85岁,平均67岁.症状包括间歇性跛行78例,静息痛62例,下肢缺血性溃疡19例,远端组织坏死11例.所有患者术前均行动脉造影检查,根据TASC Ⅱ分级:C级病变127条肢体,D级病变64条肢体.手术方法包括大隐静脉原位旁路移植术15条肢体,大隐静脉转位20条肢体,人工血管旁路移植术128条肢体,大隐静脉与人工血管组合旁路移植术28条肢体.结果 围手术期无死亡病例.术后随访6～36个月,平均(24±6)个月;76例失访,随访率57%(109/191).一期通畅率84.4%(92/109),其中人工血管旁路移植通畅率88.2%(75/85),大隐静脉(原位、转位、组合)旁路移植通畅率70.8%(17/24).二期通畅率89.9%(98/109).结论 人工血管旁路移植术是治疗严重股腘动脉闭塞症(TASC C和D级病变)的主要方法,手术疗效满意.     

流出道对于股-腘人工血管旁路术后重度狭窄闭塞的影响

目的探讨流出道对于人工血管旁路术后重度狭窄闭塞的影响。方法回顾性分析2007年3月～2009年3月收治的115例外周动脉硬化性闭塞症患者的临床资料。根据术前流出道情况分为两组:膝下仅1条流出道通畅者为一组;膝下1条以上流出道通畅者为另一组。观察两组患者术后2、6、12、24个月人工血管的通畅情况。结果随访24个月,膝下仅1条流出道通畅组与膝下1条以上流出道通畅组患者的人工血管原发通畅率比较,差异有统计学意义(45.5%vs63%,P<0.05)。结论流出道对股腘动脉(膝上)人工血管旁路术长期通畅率有所影响,近期通畅率影响不大。     

Early experience with popliteal to infrapopliteal bypass for limb salvage

In an attempt to improve graft patency and limb salvage in patients with isolated tibial vessel and/or popliteal-tibial vessel occlusive disease, bypass grafts from the popliteal or distal superficial femoral artery to infrapopliteal arteries were used in patients requiring bypass for limb salvage. During a 2 1/2-year period, 23 patients with patent axial vessels and hemodynamically normal inflow to the level of the knee underwent such bypasses. Cumulative graft patency and limb salvage rates at 31 months were 84% and 70%, respectively. Five of the six patients who required below-knee amputation did so because of progressive gangrene in the presence of a patent bypass. Short bypasses between the popliteal and infrapopliteal arteries can significantly contribute to limb salvage in patients with tibial vessel occlusive disease and may be particularly useful in patients with saphenous veins too short for longer bypasses.     

Early results for below-knee bypasses using Distaflo

In patients who require lower extremity revascularization, prosthetic graft is a reasonable alternative in the absence of a suitable autologous vein conduit. However, prosthetic bypass grafts have limited patency, especially for infrageniculate reconstruction. Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were geometrically modified at the distal end to increase their patency. The authors reviewed their experience with the Distaflo graft in patients who required lower extremity below-knee popliteal and tibial bypasses when no suitable autologous vein conduit was available. Chart review was conducted of the 57 patients who underwent 60 lower extremity bypasses over a 3-year period between June 2003 and April 2006. Twenty-four revascularizations were constructed to the tibial outflow sites, whereas the remaining grafts were placed to the below-knee (28) and above-knee (8) popliteal artery, respectively. Study endpoints were primary, assisted primary, secondary patency, and limb salvage at the time of follow-up. Distaflo bypass was performed at the infrageniculate level in 86.7% of cases (28 below-knee popliteal, 24 tibial). Mean follow-up time was 12 months (range, 0.5-37.5 months). At 1 year, primary, assisted primary, and secondary patencies and limb salvage rates for below-knee popliteal bypasses were 83.5%, 89.5%, 94.7%, and 94.4%, respectively. Primary, assisted primary, and secondary patencies and limb salvage rates for tibial bypasses were 44.4%, 44.4%, 63.2%, and 74.9%, respectively. Distaflo precuffed graft is a good alternative conduit for below-knee popliteal and tibial lower extremity reconstructions in the absence of an autologous vein and appears to have promising early patency and limb salvage rates even when used for tibial bypasses.     

Long-term evaluation of composite sequential bypass for limb-threatening ischemia.

When sufficient vein for a completely autogenous femorotibial artery bypass is not available, composite sequential grafting by using vein combined with polytetrafluoroethylene material is a surgical option. This study reviews what is currently the largest collection of these grafts and focuses on technical aspects and long-term patency characteristics. During a 7-year period 67 composite sequential bypasses were used to manage rest pain (38), ulcer (18), or gangrene (11) in 62 patients (mean age, 66 years). Fifty-two percent were men, and 51% had diabetes. This method was used as a primary reconstruction in 30, a second bypass in 16, and in 21 it was used after multiple other failed bypasses. Femoral to above-knee popliteal (44) and below-knee popliteal (23) 6 mm polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were placed. Then extensions of greater saphenous (57) or lesser saphenous (10) vein were anastomosed to the anterior tibial (19), posterior tibial (26), or peroneal (22) arteries. Fifty-three percent were maintained on long-term warfarin (Coumadin) anticoagulation, and 33% were maintained on aspirin. No deaths occurred in the perioperative period. Bypass patency was ascertained by a Doppler pressure and waveform analysis, with mean follow-up of patency or to the time of graft failure of 33 months (1 to 91 months). Three-year patient survival was 72%. Cumulative life-table primary patency of 72% (1-year), 64% (2-year), and 48% (3-year) was calculated. Two grafts are functioning 7 years after placement. Limb salvage was 84% at 2 years and 70% at 4 years. At the time of failure, five grafts retained a patent venous bypass segment, which allowed prompt reconstruction of the proximal portion. In a comparison of grafts with early failure and those with long-term patency, the SVS/ISCVS runoff score, vein diameter, tibial artery diameter, and coagulation status were similar. However, patients with the popliteal anastomosis above the knee had 2-year patency of 72% compared with 46% for those with below-knee anastomoses. This technique, when possible, appears preferable to an all prosthetic tibial bypass.     

Bypass to the Genicular Arteries for Revascularisation of the Lower Limb

OBJECTIVE: To describe an initial experience with infrainguinal bypass grafts inserted distally in a genicular artery. DESIGN: Retrospective case series study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with Grade III chronic limb ischaemia in whom arteriography showed femoropopliteal occlusive disease and at least one genicular branch suitable for receiving a bypass. Bypass grafts were done to the descending genicular artery (n=4) or the medial sural artery (n=6) using segments of autologous veins; one bypass was not completed. RESULTS: Primary graft patency and foot salvage rates were 73% at 1 month and 24 months of follow-up. Patient survival rate was 100% and 90%, respectively. Major amputation was required in two of three patients following early graft failure. Of the eight patients who had a patent graft, the Doppler ankle-brachial systolic pressure index showed no change in one patient, an increase of 0.13-0.66 in six patients, and was not measured in one patient. The former patient underwent a below-knee amputation whereas the other seven patients showed complete healing of their skin ulcers and sites of minor amputation. CONCLUSION: The genicular bypass is a useful alternative that may extend the limits of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction with autologous tissue and the potential for long-term patient benefit.     

Four years' results of a prospective, randomized clinical trial comparing polytetrafluoroethylene and modified human umbilical vein for below-knee femoropopliteal bypass

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Gore-Tex) and human umbilical vein (Biograft) arterial grafts were compared for below-knee femoropopliteal bypass grafting in a prospective randomized clinical trial. One hundred five patients (105 limbs) entered the trial. Seventy-six percent suffered from rest pain, ulceration, or gangrene. The median postoperative ankle-arm blood pressure index was 0.36. Twenty-three limbs had three patent tibial arteries, 46 limbs had two tibial arteries, 31 limbs had one patent artery, and five limbs had isolated popliteal segments. Thirty-four percent were repeat operations. Fifty-five patients were allocated to receive PTFE grafts and 50 to receive human umbilical vein grafts. The two groups were comparable as to preoperative risk factors and operative and postoperative treatment. During the first 4 years (maximum 1609 days) 40 PTFE grafts and 24 umbilical veins occluded. At 1 year the PTFE patency rate was 53% and at 4 years was 22%. For umbilical vein the corresponding figures were 74% and 42% (p = 0.005, Gehan test). During follow-up the incidence of PTFE failure was on the average 2.1 times higher than that of umbilical vein failure (95% confidence limits 1.2 to 3.4).     

Revascularization of popliteal and below-knee arteries with polytetrafluoroethylene

The expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft (Gore-tex) is the most frequently used synthetic graft when an alternative to autologous saphenous vein is required. Early results have been encouraging. In the present paper we report on 6 years of results from 153 above-knee (AK) femoropopliteal bypass grafts, 74 below-knee (BK) femoropopliteal bypass grafts, and 54 femorotibial/peroneal bypass grafts. The main indication for the vascular reconstruction was severe ischemia. Preventive antibiotics were given to 95% of the patients. Minimum observation time was 1 year after implantation. There was no operative death. Graft infection was seen in less than 5% of patients. The 6-year cumulative limb salvage rate was 87% for patients with severe ischemia in the AK femoropopliteal bypass group, 59% for those in the BK femoropopliteal bypass group, and 57% for those in the femorotibial/peroneal bypass group. The graft patency rate was 88% at 2 years and 78% at 6 years for the AK femoropopliteal bypass group, for whom the operative indication was disabling claudication, and 81% and 68%, respectively, when the indication for the vascular procedure was severe ischemia. The cumulative graft patency rate was 53% and 43% at 2 and 6 years, respectively, after implantation of BK femoropopliteal bypass grafts and 43% and 39% for femorotibial/peroneal bypass procedures. The expanded PTFE (Gore-tex) graft seems therefore to be a good alternative when an autologous vein is not available, even for reconstructions well below the knee joint.     

In situ saphenous vein for lower extremity revascularization.

BACKGROUND. During a 6-year period, 349 in situ saphenous vein bypass grafts were performed for limb salvage by three surgeons. METHODS. Outflow anastomoses were constructed to the infrageniculate popliteal (25%), posterior tibial (20%), peroneal (20%), anterior tibial (19%), and dorsal pedal arteries (7%). Mean patient age was 70 1/2 years. RESULTS. The 30-day mortality rate was 3.2%, and 19% died during the ensuing 68-month interval. At 1, 24, and 60 months primary graft patency was 89%, 77%, and 74%, secondary graft patency was 91%, 80%, and 78%, and cumulative limb survival was 94%, 88%, and 84%, respectively. Cumulative patency rates at 60 months depending on outflow site were as follows: popliteal (85%), anterior tibial (80%), posterior tibial (70%), dorsal pedal (68%), and peroneal (60%). Patency at the peroneal position was significantly inferior to that of other infrapopliteal sites combined (p less than 0.05). Cumulative limb survival at 60 months, according to outflow site, was as follows: popliteal (95%), anterior tibial (85%), posterior tibial (78%), dorsal pedal (73%), and peroneal (67%). There was no significant difference in limb salvage among infrapopliteal outflow sites. However, patency rates and limb salvage were significantly better for the popliteal outflow site than the infrapopliteal outflow sites (p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS. (1) A 5-year graft patency rate of 78% and a limb salvage rate of 84% are achievable, (2) peroneal bypass is associated with a lower rate for graft patency but not limb salvage, and (3) popliteal bypass has the best graft patency and limb salvage rates.     

Failure of arteriovenous fistulas at distal tibial bypass anastomotic sites

Arteriovenous fistula formation has been advocated to increase the outflow for tibial and peroneal distal bypass grafts. Between January, 1981 and September, 1981, twenty-seven patients underwent thirty femoral to distal tibial or peroneal artery bypass procedures with creation of an arteriovenous fistula at the site of the distal anastomosis. Limb salvage was the primary indication for surgery in 97% of this severely ischemic group, with a mean ankle pressure index of 0.32. Despite high flow rates averaging 260 cc/minute and an initial patency rate of 97%, there were only two fistulas patent in intact limbs at the conclusion of the initial eight month follow-up period with one additional occlusion at 16 months. Limb salvage to the present (July 1983) was achieved in only six cases. In the patients with limb salvage, three bypass grafts remain patent despite fistula occlusion, two patients have occlusion of both graft and fistula but no rest pain, and a single patient has maintained both graft and fistula patency for 23 months. Creation of an arteriovenous fistula at the distal anastomotic site of tibial bypass procedures augments graft flow in the immediate post-op period; but, has very low long term patency rates and is not beneficial to graft patency or effectiveness.     

Early experience utilizing the in situ saphenous vein technique in 54 patients

We have compared our early and late experience utilizing in situ saphenous vein bypass graft for lower extremity arterial occlusive disease in 54 patients who underwent in situ femoral to popliteal and distal bypass grafts between July of 1983 and February 1985. There were 3 femoral to above-knee popliteal bypasses, 27 femoral to below-knee popliteal bypass grafts, 12 femoral to anterior tibial dorsalis pedis bypass grafts, 10 femoral to posterior tibial bypass grafts and 2 femoral to peroneal in situ bypass grafts. The operative indications were progressive disabling claudication in 8 (15%) and limb salvage in 46 (85%). Eighty-nine percent of the limb salvage patients had 0-1 vessel runoff by arteriogram. Cumulative life table patency of the 54 in situ bypass grafts was 79% at 20 months. One hundred percent of the patients who were operated on for disabling claudication had patent grafts at 20 months. Seventy-eight percent of the limb salvage patients had patent grafts. Fourteen of the limb salvage patients required amputation and of these 14, 10 had patent grafts at the time of amputation. There were 8 deaths in the series. Our results demonstrate that a definite learning curve exists with this technique, however, once established, long-term patency and improved limb salvage statistics can be obtained.     

Glutaraldehyde-stabilized umbilical vein prosthesis for revascularization of the legs. Three year results by life table analysis.

Three hundred sixty-one vascular reconstructions for salvage of the leg were performed from 1975 to 1978 employing glutaraldehyde-stabilized umbilical veins. These included 183 bypasses to the popliteal segment, 108 to either of the tibial arteries and 70 to the peroneal artery. One hundred forty-one (77 per cent) of the popliteal reconstructions were below the knee. Operative mortality rates were 2.7,2.8, and 4.3 per cent for popliteal, tibial, and peroneal reconstructions, respectively. The cumulative patency rates at 36 months for each of the three types of reconstructions were 76.4 (popliteal), 63.4 (tibial), and 39.8 per cent (peroneal). The latter figure was statistically insignificant because of the small number of patients between 24 and 36 months. The cumulative patency rate for peroneal reconstructions at 2 years was 55.7 ± 6.2 per cent. Failures were usually due to inappropriate case selection or progressive disease, particularly in the distal circulation. Two grafts were removed because of wound infection and secondary graft infection. There were no instances of aneurysm formation or myointimal proliferation in the graft. These data support the continued use of the glutaraldehyde-stabilized umbilical vein as a suitable alternative to the autologous saphenous vein. The graft provides a reliable material for reconstruction of the leg that is nonantigenic, mechanically equivalent to normal vascular structures, and biocompatible as determined by physical and chemical modalities. The durability of these grafts is based on the thromboresistance of the flow surface and the cross-links established by aldehyde processing. In appropriately selected cases and with expert surgical technique, long-term graft function with limb salvage can be obtained.