Open surgical repair versus endovascular therapy for chronic lower-extremity occlusive disease.

Chronic lower-extremity occlusive disease is most often manifested by mild symptoms of claudication that can be managed conservatively. When conservative therapy fails, endovascular procedures may be effective, particularly if the disease extent is minimal. Surgery may be considered for selected patients with claudication who fail endovascular therapy or are not candidates for it. Patients with more severe symptoms of lower-extremity occlusive disease typically have more extensive disease that is treated best with surgery or with a combination of surgery and endovascular therapy. Occasionally, endovascular procedures are performed on patients with more extensive disease who are poor candidates for traditional open surgery because of severe comorbidity. Further advances in endovascular technology may improve patency after endovascular procedures in these patients.