The obturator foramen bypass: an alternative procedure in iliofemoral artery revascularization.

The obturator foramen bypass has been described as an alternative procedure to solve complicated vascular problems in the groin. This extra-anatomic bypass has been used successfully in cases of infection, mycotic aneurysms, traumatic lesions, irradiation ulcers, and excessive scar tissue in the femoral triangle. With this technique, the vascular continuity can be restored immediately. Although data on the long-term results of this operative procedure are not yet available, out report and a review of the literature suggest that the obturator foramen bypass is a very useful technique for saving a patient's leg and in some cases his life.