Circulation in the lower extremities can be restored by creation of a subcutaneous shunt between the axillary and common femoral arteries. This procedure was used 19 times in 17 poor-risk patients because of severe ischemia of both legs secondary to aortoiliac occlusive disease or, in two cases, because of sepsis of previous aortoiliac reconstruction. One patient, an emergency case, died on the third day after operation. Of the remaining 16, followed for four to 22 months, four died of unrelated causes. One graft was an early, and two were late failures. Eleven patients remained ambulatory, with successfully functioning grafts. Axillofemoral grafts appear to be effective means of restoring circulation, entail minimal operative risk and appear to function satisfactorily, often for periods of twelve months or longer.
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Mannick et al. (1968) studied this question.