Treatment of combined external iliac artery and vein injury by cross-over femorofemoral arterial and venous grafts with temporary arteriovenous shunt

The case is presented of a patient whose left external iliac artery and vein were inadvertently divided during attempted intestinal resection for diverticulitis of the sigmoid colon. Gangrene of the leg was almost inevitable, direct vascular surgery was impossible, but an indirect approach by thrombectomy and double cross‐over femorofemoral arterial and venous grafts with temporary arteriovenous shunt fully restored the life of the limb. During the operation severe bleeding occurred through the mesh of the woven Teflon prosthesis.