RESUMEN
Twenty-three lower limbs were studied. Patients were examined and investigated according to a proposed protocol. All patients had more than a risk factor leading to the advanced lower limb ischemia and inadvocate a major prolonged surgical interference. Patients were classified into two groups according to the patency of the inflow aorto-iliac tracts. All had osteal stenosis of profunda femoris with complete superficial femoral artery occlusion. Profundaplasty was done for all limbs. A concomitant reconstruction of the inflow tract was done in cases with aorto-iliac occlusion either by end- arterectomy or pass-graft. Clinical and Doppler ultrasound studies for a follow-up period of three to ten months postoperatively showed the major role of the profunda femoris artery in salvaging the critically ischemic leg after its reconstruction. Also, it can lower the level of amputation by saving the knee in a lost foot. Profundaplasty is a rather short procedure that can be tolerated by critically in patients