Femoro-femoral crossover bypass for ruptured iliac artery aneurysm

Atherosclerotic aneurysms of the iliac artery shows a marked tendency to rupture, usually with fatal outcome. A ruptured aneurysm of the left iliac artery in a 76-year-old man was successfully treated by removing the aneurysm and implanting an 8 mm dacron tubular prosthesis as a subcutaneous femoro-femoral crossover graft. The operative technique is described. The advantages of this bypass techniques as the treatment of choice in such cases are discussed.