Remote Femoral and Iliac Artery Endarterectomy

Atherosclerosis is still the leading cause of death in Western countries. Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease (stroke) are responsible for more than a fifth of all deaths worldwide [1]. Total disease prevalence is 3–10%, increasing to 20% in persons older than 70 years. The first symptom caused by atherosclerotic obstruction in the peripheral arteries is intermittent claudication, with a total prevalence of up to 10% in patients older than 60 years [2]. Atherosclerosis in the peripheral arteries develops slower compared with atherosclerosis in the coronary and carotid arteries.