Page 3 - Virtual Vascular Vol 5
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Acute Limb Ischemia
Deep Femoral artery
Popliteal artery
POSTERIOR VIEW
47 year old female patient presented to a private surgeon with severe rest pain of her left
Afoot. She probably had an untreated emboli to her left ilio-femoral system which had be-
come chronic. She had sought treatment in a public hospital but the urgency was not recog-
nized. Private investigations confirmed occluded left common and external iliac arteries extend-
ing to the common and superficial femoral arteries. Ominoulsy the left deep femoral artery was
poorly supplied by collaterals. Only a short segment of popliteal artery was left. This is a very
critical condition requiring early intervention.
The deep (profunda) femoral artery is key to limb viability in cases of arterial occlusive disesase.
It provides essential collaterals to the rest of the lower limb and must be preserved.
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