The guiding role of the Fogarty catheter was investigated among patients suffering from limb ischemia due to acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusion.

A total of 27 patients with a history of femoropopliteal bypass operation who was admitted with acute limb ischemia were enrolled in this retrospective study. In cases in which the Fogarty catheter could not be passed through the popliteal anastomosis, the popliteal region was explored and a new bypass or patch plasty was performed for the distal anastomosis. The cases in which the blood circulation was observed in the graft, but in which the Fogarty catheter balloon was stuck in the native vessels on the proximal and distal side of the graft and the balloon could be withdrawn by deflation, were referred to conventional angiography. The stenosis observed in native vessels was managed by endovascular stent grafting and/or balloon dilatation.

Graft patency was achieved in all patients. In 11 patients, conventional angiography was implemented following embolectomy. In these patients, all the occlusions found as significant on angiography were removed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Effective use of Fogarty catheter is safe in acute femoropopliteal bypass graft occlusions and in particular, in the planning of further treatment following thrombectomy.