Arteriosclerotic femoral artery aneurysms

Arteriosclerotic aneurysms of the femoral artery are uncommon lesions that occur in elderly men. In 30 patients 36 aneurysms were repaired at the Toronto Western Hospital from January 1965 to June 1977. Half of the patients presented with ischemia and one quarter with an enlarging mass, and one quarter had no symptoms. Two thirds had other aneurysms and one third had suffered from cerebral or myocardial ischemia. The technique of repair changed from reconstructive aneurysmorrhaphy before 1970 to use of an interposition arterial prosthesis thereafter. Minimal groin dissection, internal control of blood flow in the deep femoral artery, and use of an appropriate arterial prosthesis provided excellent results. Surgical repair is recommended for most symptomatic ones when the patient's life expectancy is more than 2 years.