Axillo-femoral by-pass: technique and long-term results.

: The paper describes problems related to axillo-femoral (AF) revascularization of the lower limbs on the basis of personal experience of axillo-femoral by-passes performed from 1971 to 1987. The indications to this technique are limited to high-risk patients. The long-term results are analyzed. The paper stresses the difficulties connected with the choice of the level of the proximal and distal anastomoses, as well as the type of prosthesis to be used.