[Ways to improve patency of the femoral-popliteal-crural bypass grafts].

Chronic obliterating diseases of lower-limb arteries account for more than 20% of all manifestations of cardiovascular pathology. A surgical method of treatment for this pathology remains most effective. The types of operations below the inguinal fold currently used are as follows: bypass grafting, endarterectomy, and angioplasty. The vein is the material of choice and if it is not easily available allografts may be used. Differing elastic properties of the artery and prosthesis lead to progression of the neointima thus negatively affecting patency of bypass grafts. This article describes venous bypass grafts, their efficacy, methods of improving patency of allografts, as well as variants of combined operations.