[Thrombectomy in secondary and/or late thrombosis of branches of the aortic bifurcation prosthesis].

Between 1974 and 1984, 1,100 prostheses of the aortic bifurcation, aorto-bi-femoral or aorto-bi-iliac, were inserted for atherosclerotic lesions: aneurysms were excluded from this analysis. The most frequently used prosthesis material was of double velvet Dacron. Global percent thrombosis development was 5.5%. Possible causes of the thrombosis are the operative techniques, the distal arterial bed and the presence or absence of associated anticoagulant therapy. Techniques used and results obtained with thrombectomy on one or more thrombosed prosthesis branches are compared with other reconstructive procedures for similar indications, particularly atypical axillo-femoral or inter-femoral by-pass operations. Results of this comparison may appear surprising but are nevertheless perfectly logical.