Persistent sciatic artery: clinical, surgical, and angiographic aspects.

The sciatic artery is a persistent fetal vessel that usually constitutes the end arterial supply to the lower extremity and replaces the femoral artery, which is usually present but hypoplastic. It is prone to vascular disease, such as aneurysm and arteriosclerosis. The artery can be demonstrated angiographically by transfemoral catheterization or translumbar aortogram with peripheral studies. Bilateral aortoperipheral studies are necessary because the anomaly is often bilateral. Surgical therapy was carried out on ten of 18 patients. The recommended technique is a femoropopliteal vein bypass. When an aneurysm is present, either ligation of the aneurysm or aneurysmorrhaphy accompanied by femoral popliteal bypass is the recommended procedure.