Open surgical versus minimally invasive in situ femorodistal bypass: long-term results.

Purpose: To compare long-term patency and limb survival rates for the classical in situ surgical bypass procedure versus a minimally invasive technique for femorodistal revascularization.

Methods: From May 1992 to June 1994, a prospective multicenter study was undertaken at 4 centers to evaluate the open versus closed technique for femorodistal bypass grafting. Of 97 patients enrolled in the trial, 73 patients (49 men; mean age 71 years) were assigned to the long-term follow-up protocol and prospectively randomized to the open (n=38) or closed (n=35) procedure.