Obturator bypass: a sixteen year experience with 55 cases.

Fifty-five obturator bypasses were performed over a 16 year period for limb salvage. The indications for the choice of this technique included arterial infection, aneurysm formation or soft tissue skin loss at the groin (26 patients), and extensive atherosclerotic disease of the iliofemoral vessels, precluding their use for inflow or outflow (27 patients). There were five perioperative deaths and the five-year patency rate was 37%. Long-term results after above-knee reconstruction substantially exceeded those for below-knee anastomoses (three year patency rates of 71% and 45% respectively). Due to its morbidity and mortality the decision to perform an obturator bypass should be based upon sound indications such as deep infection at the groin, or extensive multilevel arterial disease. Its usefulness in extensive multilevel arterial disease is not demonstrated.