[Simpson's atherectomy in embolizing leg artery stenoses].

We report on the treatment and follow-up of six patients with an unilateral "blue toe" syndrome. This is caused by atheromatous micro-embolisation to the digital arteries and requires urgent attention due to the painful cutaneous necroses and impending digital gangrene. In all patients, Simpson's atherectomy of proximally situated femoropopliteal stenoses caused the pre-gangrenous digital changes to heal completely. In a mean observation period of ten months no relapse occurred. The embolising material was presumably parietal fibrino-platelet thrombi which could be observed with angioscopy and were regularly detectable histologically in the excised tissue.