A total of 336 femorotibial reconstructions were performed at the surgical clinic of the University of Erlangen and the Fürth City Hospital between 1966 and 1978. Mortality was 1.5%, and 89.6% of the patients were discharged with functioning reconstructions. The Life Table Method showed a patency of 58.7% after 5 years and 56.7% after 7 years follow-up for the saphenous vein graft.