[Leg embolisms: treatment via surgical embolectomy]

Arterial thrombembolectomy with the Fogarty balloon catheter was the standard therapy until now. We present fifty three patients who underwent 63 embolectomies. The rate of leg salvage was 95%, mortality was 18.8%. There is no controversy about the use of the Fogarty balloon catheter in the iliofemoral segment, particularly in patients with acute ischemia. In popliteal and tibial embolic occlusions, associated intraoperative fibrinolytic therapy obtained good results. Percutaneous thrombo aspiration was a complementary technique for few of distal embolic occlusions.