The value of preoperative saphenous venography for graft evaluation in femoral arterial occlusive disease.

We reviewed the results of preoperative bilateral ascending phlebography in 23 patients who had femoral arterial occlusive disease; seven of the 40 successful saphenous venograms showed significant abnormalities. Varicosities, congenital duplications, superficial or deep thrombophlebitis and saphenous vein length were clearly identifiable. Correlation of the radiographic sphenous diameter with the operative measurement was poor. Nevertheless, four of the 21 patients were spared unnecessary surgery because we had determined by preoperative venography a better vein for autograft than the ipsilateral saphenous vein.