Results of open vascular surgical therapy in chronic peripheral arterial disease.

Surgery in chronic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can alleviate symptoms in claudicants and may impede amputation in critical limb ischemia. The current data on different surgical strategies and techniques from the aortoiliac region to the pedal arteries as well as amputation as last resort are described and discussed. Treatment of PAD depends on the condition of the patient and his comorbidities. The question of optimal therapy for each patient cannot always be answered in the operating theatre or the angio-suite.