Operations for limb salvage in vascular surgery

: Direct revascularization which involve the femoro-popliteo-tibial district is called "limbs salvage" surgery. Such operations are performed in the arteriopathic patient in order to avoid ulcers and distal necrosis, whose natural evolution, without an adequate treatment, leads to amputation. One of the distal by-pass techniques is obtained by using in situ saphenous vein. The Authors report their experience with 281 patients who underwent direct revascularization surgery (by-pass), discussing technique and results.