Late reoperations after aorto-iliac restaurations

(1) Late thrombosis after aorto-iliac revascularisations are infrequent when the operation is correctly performed and controlled by intra-operative angiography. (2) Reoperation after thromboendarterectomy is a difficult procedure requiring great care in the aortic approach. (3) Reoperation after thrombosis of a prosthetic graft is much easier as far as dissection is concerned, usually the upper part of the former prosthesis may be kept, which renders the procedure very much easier. (4) The distal anastomosis should be realised distally to the sclerotic block surrounding the femoral bifurcation. (5) In case of poor risk patients, it is better to use extra-anatomical bypasses, and if necessary, one must be able to sacrifice a limb for a life. Mortality rates are high in our series. It may be due in part to a too much optimistic pre-operative evaluation and selection of our patients, in the first years of our experience.