The conservative therapy of atherosclerotic lesions of the superficial femoral artery. The indications and results

: In ten years, 127 patients presenting occlusion of the femoro-popliteal tract at Fontaine II stage were studied. Only patients with occlusion situated between the origin of the profunda femoris artery and supreme genu artery were included in this study. The best results were obtained with conservative treatment: 76 cases (59.8%) presented clinical improvement. In 22 cases (17.3%) the conservative treatment did not lead to any improvement. Among this group surgical treatment was necessary only in 8 cases (6.3%). We conclude that conservative treatment (exercise and indobufen 400 mg/die) is indicated in this type of occlusion of femoropopliteal tract at Fontaine II stage. The walk distance is better than doppler analysis in determining the results of conservative treatment. There were no cases of acute thrombosis. Every therapeutic choice must be evaluated on angiographic findings, especially regarding collateral circles.