title: Preoperative mapping of the saphenous vein: Predicting the risk of failure of infrainguinal bypass surgery.
abstract: A series of 124 patients had their greater saphenous vein assessed with duplex ultrasound scanning prior to planned infrainguinal bypass procedures. 33 (27%) bypass procedures thrombosed within the first year. A naturally occurring optimal vein diameter was discovered: 5.0-6.5 mm at mid-thigh level and 1.0-1.5 mm less at mid-calf level. It was significantly correlated with higher one year patency: thrombosis occured in 8% of the cases in veins with this optimal diameter combination and in 31% of the cases in all other combinations (P < 0.001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sillesen
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Schroeder