Endovascular assisted in situ bypass grafting: a simplified technique for saphenous vein side branch occlusion.

Abstract

The in situ bypass procedure for lower extremity limb salvage requires a long continuous incision or multiple interrupted incisions over the greater saphenous vein to ligate the saphenous vein side branches. This can result in wound complications that frequently prolong hospital stay and threaten the graft. In an effort to reduce the incidence of wound complications, alternate methods of occluding the vein side branches have been used. One method is to deliver coils under angioscopic vision into the saphenous vein side branches. This report details a simplified technique that uses widely available catheter-based equipment to perform saphenous vein side branch occlusion under fluoroscopic guidance.