Arterial embolectomy in the lower limbs

A series of arterial embolectomies of the lower limb is reviewed, and the results are compared with those in a previous series reported from this hospital. There were 40 emboli in the 36 patients, with an operative mortality of 16% and a limb salvage rate of 85%. This represents a considerable improvement on the results reported from the first series and is attributed to the greater experience of surgeons with the Fogarty embolectomy catheter. However, there has been no decrease in the delay between the onset of symptoms and the embolectomy. If this aspect of management could be improved, then even better results should be obtained.