[Sciatic artery or persistent axial artery. Apropos of 2 rare variants]

Arteriography in two patients showed a persistent sciatic artery, in one case complete and the other case incomplete, associated with a persistent superficial femoral artery. One case was complicated by the presence of an aneurysm. Embryology, pathology, clinical aspects and surgical repercussions are discussed, and emphasis placed on the need for preoperative angiography to detect this embryologic variant requiring another surgical attitude.