[Aortoiliac arteriosclerosis treated with bypass surgery]

After introduction of the crimped Dacron bifurcation prosthesis, bypass surgery has been the preferred surgical treatment for arteriosclerosis in the aortoiliacal segment. During the years 1979-88 we performed 152 aortoiliacal/femoral bypass operations. Perioperative mortality was 2%, while 96% of patients experienced improvement from operation. Primary and secondary five-year graft patency rates were 84 and 88%. Considering the high risk in this patient group, we regard the operational mortality to be acceptable, and the long term results satisfactory. However, surgical treatment should be reserved for patients with serious occlusive disease in the aortoiliac segment. For patients with more limited lesions, endovascular procedures are a relevant alternative to surgery.