A Functional Classification of Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease

In its uncomplicated form, vascular surgery is deceptively simple and when successful, gratifyingly dramatic. In perhaps no other field of surgery, however, are the pitfalls more subtle and the price of failure more catastrophic. Attention must constantly be given, especially during the operative procedure itself, to what Gomes et al¹ so wisely refer to as "the importance of the 'little things'." Nevertheless, long-term patency rates in femoropopliteal reconstructions range from 5% to 75%^2-7 depending on such factors as the indications for surgery, the local situation, the type of reconstructive procedure, the length of follow-up and how one interprets the data. Also, as might be expected, the more severe the patient's vascular disease (and usually symptomatology), the poorer the immediate and long-term results. Or to put the dilemma differently, the greater the need, the less the chances are for a worthwhile outcome. Patency rates are more satisfactory in the