Objective: To evaluate the cause of immediate occlusions (those occurring during the first month postoperatively) of infrainguinal reconstruction using in situ saphenous vein.
Design: Retrospective clinical study.
Setting: University hospital, Finland.
Subjects: 329 in situ saphenous vein bypasses done during the period 1988-1995.
Main outcome measures: Immediate result, and causes of occlusion during the first month postoperatively.
Results: 65 of the reconstructions (20%) failed within 1 month, 46 of which were reoperated on, 25 successfully, giving a 1-month secondary patency of 88% (289/329). The cause of the occlusion was related to the vein graft in 29 (45%) and the result of inadequate run-off in 19 (29%).
Conclusion: Many immediate occlusions of in situ saphenous vein bypass are graft-related or the result of technical problems, necessitating aggressive intraoperative evaluation.