The British journal of surgery
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The results of extended deep femoral angioplasty (EDFA) have been alaysed for 74 legs in 72 patients. In 69 per cent a femoropopliteal bypass would have been possible, so DEFA is considered here as an alternative operation. The success rate was 66-9 per cent, the failure rate 25-6 per cent and no effect was achieved in 7-5 per cent. ⋯ Claudication and rest pain were the most relieved by EDFA, followed by isachaemic ulceration of the leg. Gangrene of digits was helped but less than had been hoped. We conclude that the indications for femoropopliteal bypass are limited to cases of digital gangrene where angiography shows that bypass is possible or where an EDFA operation has failed.