The prognostic value of Doppler-derived blood flow velocity measurements for predicting the patency of femoropopliteal and femorotibial bypass grafts was analyzed. Peak systolic and end-diastolic blood flow velocities were measured in 42 femorotibial, 24 femoropopliteal, and three femoropopliteal (isolated segment) in situ saphenous vein bypasses at operation and serially in the postoperative period. At operation peak systolic flow velocity was greater (p less than 0.01) in femoropopliteal grafts (90 +/- 22 cm/sec) compared with femorotibial grafts (68 +/- 19 cm/sec) and isolated segment femoropopliteal (58 +/- 16 cm/sec) grafts. Diastolic forward flow, indicative of low outflow resistance, was present in all successful grafts at operation and in the immediate postoperative period, but decreased thereafter. Early graft occlusion was associated with a low peak systolic flow velocity (less than 40 cm/sec) and absent diastolic forward flow. Postoperative decrease in peak systolic velocity to less than 45 cm/sec identified grafts with impending failure due to intrinsic graft lesions or progression of atherosclerosis. A low blood flow velocity threatens graft patency and should prompt an angiographic evaluation to identify correctable graft lesions or an outflow tract suitable for sequential grafting for the purpose of augmenting flow velocity.