Remote endarterectomy: an alternative to surgical bypass.

We present our preliminary results of remote endarterectomy performed during June 2003 to June 2010. 8 cases of unilateral ileofemoral disease, 3 cases of bilateral ileofemoral disease and 4 cases of femoro-popliteal disease constituting 18 limbs were successfully operated. All patients had comorbid conditions like Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac disease and smoking. Patency at 3 months with loss of one patient for follow up was 100 %. At one year follow up, the overall success rate was 90.90 %. One patient with Iliofemoral Endarterectomy had progression of the disease and hence had to undergo Aorto-Femoral bypass. All patients who had tissue loss, showed complete recovery by 3 months and one patient was lost to follow up. A 5 year follow up had a patency rate of 74 %. Remote endarterectomy is a viable and durable alternative to standard bypass procedures. Remote endarterectomy combines the advantages of minimally invasive surgery with endovascular techniques.