Semi-closed thromboendarterectomy of the femoro-popliteal artery (results of 142 consecutive cases, 5 years after operation).

Semi-closed thromboendarterectomy with the aid of a ring stripper appears not yet to have been abandoned as a method of reconstruction in occlusions in the femoro-popliteal tract. In a series of 142 operations, 5 years postoperatively, 44% of the stripped vascular tracts were still patent and 41% were occluded. Eighteen patients, in whom 20 operations had been performed, had died less than 5 years after the operation. The surgical mortality rate was 0%. There is no significant difference between the results of the operations performed because of Fontaine stages II and III. The incidence of recurrent occlusion was not demonstrably influenced by diabetes mellitus, or by continuation versus cessation of smoking after the operation. A review is presented of the results of semi-closed thromboendarterectomy, open-thromboendarterectomy and venous bypass as reported in the literature.