Endarterectomy for ischemia of the lower extremity

Objective To treat ischemia of th e lower extremity, endarterectomy was performed. Methods[WT 5”BZ] In 22 patients with arterial occlusive disease, arteriotomy was perf ormed at the distal end of the occlusive part. Artheroma was freed and cut off. A ring stripper was inserted into the artery and went up to the proximal end of the occlusive lesion. The artheroma was removed by a Fogarty through arteriotomy . The distal end of the cut intima was sutured to the arterial wall. [WT5” HZ]Results The removed occlusive lesion was 10 to 43 cm lon g. Symptoms disappeared in 19 patients (86 4%), and no deaths occurred. Endarte rectomy failed in one patient and a bypass was performed with the reversed suphe nous vein. Amputation was performed in two patients because of its insufficient run off. The average time of follow up was 3 2 years, and patients with arteri al thrombosis were treated by thrombolytic therapy. Two patients with artery ste nosis were cared by vein patch angioplasty. One experienced rest pain after trea tment with a long term patency 68 2%. Conclusions[WT5”B Z] Endarterectomy is still a choice of treatment for ischemia of the lower ex tremity, and it is simple and its patency is similar to that of arterial bypass.