Long-term results after arterial surgery for arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs in young adults.

Ninety-nine patients, with a mean age of 40 years, underwent surgery for arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs during 1975-81. The main indication for surgery was claudication and the median observation time 102 months (range 54-138 months). Twenty patients died during the follow-up period and fifteen of these could be related to arteriosclerotic disease. At follow-up, 43 patients had claudication, while 34 patients had developed other arteriosclerotic manifestations. Amputation was performed in 17 patients. At follow-up the number of patients at work remained almost unchanged, whereas the number of patients receiving disablement pension increased. This study shows that younger patients with arteriosclerosis of the lower limbs had a mortality of approximately 20%, during the period of observation of this study. However, many patients became asymptomatic after surgery suggesting that a conservative attitude to arterial surgery in these patients cannot be justified.