Peroperative flow and pressure measurements in profundaplasty

In twelve patients, the fluid resistance across the origin of the profunda femoris artery was assessed by flow and pressure recordings, before reconstructive profundaplasty was performed. There was a considerable range of resistance values obtained and in the eight patients having repeat flow and pressure recordings following the reconstruction in only five patients was there a reduction in the fluid resistance. This suggests that not all atheromatous plaques at the profunda femoris origin produce a blood flow disturbance to warrant profundaplasty, and may explain the variable results reported following this operation.