Extensive aorto-ilio-femoral endarterectomy with LeVeen plaque cracker

The authors present a series of 98 patients, who underwent an aorto-ilio-femoral endarterectomy according to the technique of LeVeen. The operative mortality was 1% with an adjusted early patency rate of 99%. For a total of 52 documented cases, erectile function was lost in 25%. Ejaculatory disorders were seen in 35 patients. With a mean follow-up period of 22 months (range 1 to 60 months) there were no occlusions in the aortoiliac group. Patency in the aortofemoral group decreased to 92.5% after 4 years. It is concluded that the results support continued use of the reported technique. A longer period of follow-up however is recommended to define its exact role in reconstructive surgery for aortoiliac occlusive disease.