It is suspected that operative injury to the native arteries during a vascular bypass procedure causes periarterial fibrosis contributing to late graft failure. A a nondissection method for tibial artery bypass has been developed using Esmarch's rubber bandage or an automatic sequential pneumatic tourniquet. This retrospective study examined patency and other late results in distal bypass operations using the nondissection method. Between June 1982 and July 1995, 78 tibial bypasses were performed using reversed autogenous saphenous vein grafts in 70 patients (57 men, 13 women; mean age 57.4 years). Graft patency was assessed angiographically. When a stenotic lesion was recognized, the graft was revised and considered an assisted primary patency. Primary patency rates at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 82.8%, 75.3%, 63.4% and 63.4%, respectively, by life-table analysis. Six grafts required revision for stenosis; one involved distal anastomotic stenosis. As a result, assisted primary patency rates resembled secondary patency rates of 87.7%, 84.3%, 80.3%, and 80.3% at the same respective intervals. In conclusion, the nondissection method improved long-term patency by preventing late distal anastomotic stenosis.