[74 by-passes on leg arteries (author's transl)]

74 by-passes on leg arteries have been performed during these last ten years at St Joseph's hospital to cure: femoropopliteal atherosclerotic occlusive disease (67 cases), aneurisms (5 cases), post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula (1 case), popliteal thrombosis on exostosis (1 case). The indication for operation was, in almost every case, carried on a distal advanced ischemia, followed by an imminent limb loss. In four cases, there existed an acute sensory and motor ischemia. The accumulated potency rate was 58.5% at 1 year and decreased progressively afterwards: 38.20% at 3 years and 21.6% at 5 years. However, the choice of a surgical technics doesn't find its justification in a long-dated prognosis for this operation, the aim of which being limb-salvage. In this prospect, the results are hopeful: 77% of the limbs have effectively been preserved at the end of the follow-up period.