[Profundaplasty--a palliative operation in leg arterial occlusion of the aged?]

In a retrospective study the relevance of revascularisation of the deep femoral artery was evaluated in 100 geriatric patients with obliterative atherosclerosis. The results of profundaplasty were good in 91% of patients with claudication (follow-up 47 months). In patients with rest pain the limb salvage rate was 77% (follow-up 39 months). In comparison with femoropopliteal or femorocrural bypass the results were at least even but had lower lethality. In a state of gangrene the limb salvage rate was 39% overall (follow-up 31 months). Diabetics had a limb salvage rate of 28% versus 43% in non diabetics. In a state of claudication and rest pain with stenosis of the deep femoral artery its revascularisation is in our view the treatment of first choice. In a state of gangrene bypass implantation, especially in diabetics, seems to have better results, but as additional palliation before primary amputation profundaplasty should be performed.