Combined aortobifemoral and femoropopliteal bypass in the management of patients with extensive atherosclerosis

Certain patients have atherosclerosis in both aortoillac and femoropopliteal segments of the arterial tree and thus do not have a good result from reconstruction of the aortoiliac segment. No method has been developed to identify these patients and we do not know whether, by combining a femoropopliteal bypass with an aortobifemoral bypass, the results can be improved. We present a series of 153 patients with severe multilevel occlusive disease treated by simultaneous reconstruction and followed for up to 6.5 years. The cumulative patency of the femoropopliteal bypasses was 80% at four years. Functional and symptomatic improvement was excellent, and operative mortality was low when one considers the age and poor general condition of the patients.