Valvulotome

A valvulotome is a medical device used to destroy the venous valves in especially the great saphenous vein to allow for arterial flow.

Since the leg veins usually contain a number of valves that direct flow towards the heart, they cannot directly be used as graft, but if vein valves are removed the arterial blood can flow via the GSV to the lower leg - this is called an in situ graft procedure, a type of vascular bypass.