1. 1. Fifteen dogs had a 2 cm. segment of superficial femoral vein excised bilaterally and replaced with a jugular venous autograft. In six of these dogs (group I) a distal arteriovenous shunt was built into a K-shaped system using a total of three anastomoses. In the remaining nine dogs (group II) a distal H-shaped arteriovenous shunt was created. 2. 2. The autografts in the opposite leg without a distal arteriovenous shunt served as the controls. 3. 3. Serial venograms were used to determine patency. 4. 4. The shunts were closed at ten days in group I animals and after six weeks in group II. 5. 5. In group I (K-shunts) all grafts thrombosed three days after shunt closure. 6. 6. In the five survivors in group II, all grafts were patent at the time of shunt removal. One vein was inadvertently ligated at that time. All of the other four vein grafts were patent three weeks after shunt removal (100 per cent patency). Only three of the five control grafts remained patent at this time (60 per cent patency). 7. 7. These studies indicate that a temporary distal arteriovenous fistula may enhance patency of a small venous autograft. 8. 8. The first clinical case in the literature utilizing this principle is presented. © 1969.
