Preferential use of nonreversed vein grafts in above-knee femoropopliteal bypasses for critical ischemia: midterm outcome.

We evaluated nonreversed vein grafts in above-knee bypasses for chronic critical limb ischemia in a retrospective study with intention-to-treat analysis in patients who underwent above-knee bypass grafting. During a 4-year period, 51 patients (men, 32; women, 19; mean age = 66 years) with 53 critically ischemic lower extremities underwent above-knee femoropopliteal bypass grafting. The follow-up evaluation consisted of clinical examination, assessment of the ankle-brachial systolic blood pressure index, and, whenever necessary, duplex scanning.