[How urgent is the operation of bilateral occlusion of the aortic bifurcation?].

INTRODUCTION

Symptoms of occluded aortic bifurcation are variable and consequently lead to the question "How urgent is the operation?".

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The diagnostic and therapeutic procedure is analysed retrospectively in 6 patients. The reason for the occlusion was thrombosis or embolism in 3 patients each.

RESULTS

A successful bilateral inguinal thrombembolectomy was the standard operative revascularisation. In 2 of 3 emergency cases with critical ischemia the operation was performed without preoperative imaging. 3 patients with non-critical ischemia were operated upon more than 12 hours after rising symptoms.

DISCUSSION

How urgent the operation is depends primarily on the extent of occlusion. In case of critical ischemia a revascularisation can be performed without angiography. However, a more extensive procedure, even a bifemoral bifurcation graft, must be taken into account.