The number of patients with occlusive peripheral vascular disease of the lower ex tremities is still growing as rapidly as the number of patients with coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. Due to the increase in average life expectancy during the last few decades, more patients now need surgical vascular reconstruc tion. This actually means a demand for more centers specializing in vascular surgery and equipped with intensive care facilities, since the number of patients with cardio vascular and bronchopulmonary complications is increasing as well. In addition, the number of...