Fine needle puncture (FNP) for pre- and post-operative studies of femoro-crural vacular reconstructions

During two years we performed 199 pre- and postoperative angiograms on 99 patients with femoro-crural reconstruction. 133 of these were by FNP. In 4.2% of postoperative FNPs (fully anticoagulated patients), there was significant bleeding from the puncture or the operative scar. It was not necessary to reoperate on any bypasses and there were no late complications. As regards the demonstration of the calf vessels, FNP proved itself superior as a pre- and postoperative method. Because of the rapidity of the method, the small amount of contrast required and the minimal trauma, FNP is the method of choice for pre- and postoperative studies of the calf vessels for femoro-crural reconstructions. (orig.)