Late results after femoral artery embolectomy

A review of 100 femoral artery embolectomies performed on 88 consecutive patients during a 10-year period was conducted to establish immediate and long-term results. There were 48 (55%) male and 40 (45%) female patients. Ages ranged from 33 to 97 years (mean, 73 years). Local anesthesia was used in 84 (84%) cases. Fifteen (17%) patients died within 30 days of the procedure. Major limb amputation was required within 30 days of operation in 16 (16%) patients. Mortality rate in the group of patients needing early amputation was 50% compared with 11% for those who underwent successful embolectomy procedures (p less than 0.001). Current follow-up was established for all patients. Five-year and 10-year survival rates for the entire group were 40% and 35%, respectively. The most frequent causes of late death after femoral artery embolectomy were arteriosclerotic heart disease (26%), cerebrovascular accident (26%), and advanced carcinoma (21%). All 39 remaining survivors were located 8 to 126 months (mean, 48 months) after discharge to complete a questionnaire designed to assess quality of life and symptoms of vascular insufficiency. Thirty-five (90%) survivors were fully ambulatory and 27 (70%) lived in their own homes. Although early survival is decreased after femoral embolectomy, long-term survivors can be expected to live independently with excellent limb salvage and function.