Semiclosed thromboendoarterectomy on femoro-popliteal tract revisited after a fourteen years experience on 595 cases.

In the seventies atherosclerotic femoropopliteal lesions were extensively treated by means of retrograde semiclosed thromboendarterectomy (FP-TEA) an analytic follow-up of cases, until 1980, induced the modification of the indications to FP-TEA. Currently the FP-TEA technique is only employed for patients at the 2nd Fontaine's stage with disabling claudication (generally less than 100 mt) with a good distal run-off (at least 2 tibial vessels patent). The report deals with a series of 595 cases operated in the period January 1971-December 1984. In 45% of cases FP-TEA was associated with a proximal revascularization. In an attempt to focus on the factors that may influence the outcome, the patients operated in 1976, 1980, 1984, were assessed and the results related to clinical stage, angiographic pattern and postoperative treatment.