Reharvesting of Saphenous Vein Arterial Bypasses— Two Case Reports

Abstract

Patients who require bypass grafts to the distal vessels of the lower extremity represent a significant problem if autogenous saphenous vein is not available, since saphenous vein has a higher patency rate than any other prosthetic mate rial for distal bypasses. Presented here are two case reports of reharvesting saphenous vein that has been previously used in femoropopliteal bypasses. Composite grafts were then constructed with polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE) so the portion of the bypass going below the knee was still saphenous vein graft.