[E. Malan's diversion syndrome. Reflections after twenty years' experience]

A personal series of 131 cases of diversion syndrome of the upper and lower extremities is reviewed. 3 cases observed in a study of 100 infants are also reported. Only 12 of the 131 cases are presented as true diversion syndromes and the possible congenital origin is recognised. It is pointed out that the haemodynamic event does not have the significance of a haemometrokinetic phenomenon but of a true diversion capable of activation to the point of attaining the appearance of active localised a-v angiodysplasias.