J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 79(3): 207-215, 1978

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Original article

PROFUNDAPLASTY FOR THE ATHEROSCLEROSIS OBLITERANS

The deep femoral or profunda femoris artery is the primary source of blood flow to the thigh and is known to work as most important collateral vessel to the knee and lower part of the leg when the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries are obstructed. And usually this artery is less involved than the common or superficial femoral vessels by the atherosclerotic process except for the first portion.
Recently the value of this approach to the deep femoral artery has been emphasized. This paper reviewed our experience for reconstruction of the deep femoral artery.
During the past three and a half years, the profunda plasty for the atherosclerosis obliterans was performed on 21 limbs in 19 patients.
Mean age of the patients were 68.4 years. There were 16 male and 3 female patients in this series. The presenting symptoms were intermittent claudication on 11 limbs in 9 patients, rest pain on 6 in 6 and impending or established gangrene of the toes on 4 limbs in 4 patients.
In all of the patients, the superficial femoral artery was occluded or severely stenotic. Proximal reconstruction was performed in 16 limbs and isolated repair of the profunda was carried out in 5 limbs. Lumber sympathectomy was added in all the cases for the purpose of reduction of perpheral resistance. Postoperatively all patients with intermittent claudication were remarkedly improved. Rest pain was disappeared 5 out of 6 patients.
Impending or established gangrene of the toes was improved 2 out of 4 limbs. Postoperative ankle systolic pressure showed significant elevation above 50 mmHg in 80% of the patients.
Our results suggested that profunda plasty or extended deep femoral angioplasty was effective for the various degrees of the limb ischemia.

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