Obturator Canal Bypass Grafts for Septic Lesions of the Femoral Artery

• Infection of the femoral artery results in false aneurysm formation and hemorrhage unless appropriate reconstructive measures are taken. We reviewed ten such cases managed by obturator canal bypass with autogenous saphenous vein. The graft maintained viability of the extremity in every case in the early postoperative period. One death occurred related to cardiac disease, and there was one late failure. This experience confirms the usefulness of the obturator canal as a method for bypass of the infected femoral artery. ( Arch Surg 114:1031-1033, 1979)