Claudication is very nuisance to the patient who has a ischemic limb. Claudication itself does not mean immediate amputation of the limb, since the inconvenience of the patient depends more or less on the activity. Things are different in patient who has a severely ischemic limb.
It often causes peripheral ulcers, gangrene and amputation. These are life threatening potentially, especially in the elderly; after amputation of a lower extremity, unexpected falls may cause severe injury and stressfull life of post-amputation rehabilitation can possibly lead to cardiopulmonary distress.
The advantages of living limb over the artificial is so great that it is reasonable to try more active forms of arterial reconstruction for severely ischemic limb than would be suitable for claudication alone in the broad sense of preventive rehabilitation.
We have a demonstrable case of a 30-year-old man who has successfully been recovered with arterial re-reconstruction from severely ischemic leg, suffering from Thromboangiitis Obliterans over the period of 3 years.
He had his right lower extremity bypassed previously with a Wesolowski-Weavenit, 6mm in internal diameter, over the segmental stenosis of right popliteal artery for claudica tion, and right lumbar sympathetic ganglionectomy simultaneously.
Claudication and ulcers with severe ischemic pain developed in right foot following short period of success.
We successfully saved his right foot by arterial reconstruction of autovein bypass over occluded arterial tree, supplying enough blood to improve claudication and also to cure longstanding-ischemic ulcers, though he eagerly wanted his leg amputated because of severe pain.
We strongly emphasize the role of arterial reconstruction surgery to get rid of ischemic conditions in the field of rehabilitation for ischemic limb.
It does work on salvaging living limb, even in a short period of success.

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