Intraoperative arteriography in femoropopliteal and femorotibial bypass grafts.

We reviewed our experience with intraoperative arteriography following femoropopliteal and femorotibial reconstruction during a five-year period beginning in January 1975. During 171 of 250 procedures an intraoperative arteriogram was performed. In nine (5.2%) instances, a correctable abnormality was detected. These consisted of three cases of distal anastomotic stenoses, two cases of intimal flaps, three cases of poor inflow, and one case of clot. Intraoperative arteriography may reveal a correctable abnormality in 5% of femoropopliteal and femorotibial bypass grafts and thus prevent early graft failure. The false-positive rate was 0.06%. In our experience, routine intraoperative arteriography has been a safe, easy to perform, and effective method of assessing technical problems in femoropopliteal and femorotibial reconstruction.