Persistent sciatic artery. Clinical aspects and operative management.

Abnormal persistent of the embryonic axial blood supply to the leg, the sciatic artery, is a rare but often clinically important condition. The sciatic artery may vary from a small collateral in the upper thigh to a very large vessel that is the leg's sole arterial blood supply. The abnormal artery is prone to aneurysmal dilatation and atherosclerotic occlusion, and different patterns of anatomic development in the sciatic and femoral artery systems pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Advances in preoperative hemodynamic assessment, arteriography, and vascular surgical technique have improved the results of management of persistent sciatic artery and its complications. The world literature has been reviewed, including one additional case, with emphasis on embryologic development, anatomic variations, and clinical presentation, as well as diagnosis, therapy, and results.