The place of profundaplasty in surgical treatment of lower limb atherosclerosis.

Fourty-five reconstructions of the profunda femoris artery were performed in 41 patients during the period from 1972 to 1974. 78% were operated upon for pain at rest or distal gangrene. Three patients died postoperatively and in 5 cases the reconstruction failed to save the limb. In 1 additional case the operation probably lowered the amputation level to below knee. There was only 1 late occlusion. In the present material profundaplasty alone or combined with iliac reconstruction could relieve rest pain and save limbs when no other possibilities except amputation existed. However, when significant obstruction of the profounda femoris artery is demonsrated by angiography, profundaplasty should probably be perferred to femoro-popliteal reconstruction in most cases since it represents a minor operation with encouraging long-term results. Lateral angiograms of the deep femoral artery should supplement conventional angiography or lower limb atherosclerosis.