Surgery of the Deep Femoral Artery

Circulation through the deep femoral artery and its branches is critical to patients with aortoiliac and infrainguinal arteriosclerosis. It is, accordingly, essential that all physicians who are seriously interested in treating patients with lower extremity ischemia have a good working knowledge of this crucial artery's anatomy and func­ tion. It is equally essential that they be aware of arteriosclerotic disease patterns that involve this important artery, how these patterns can be Clccurately defined, and, most importantly, what therapeutic options are available and when they should be used. All this important information relating to the deep femoral artery and its surgical significance is included in Dr. Merlini's fine volume. Eighteen authors have contributed 11 well-edited and nicely illustrated chapters that provide all the facts that the com­ mitted vascular surgeon would ever want to know about the deep femoral artery and how it should be managed in patients with lower limb ischemia. Although some of the chapters overlap in some areas, this adds to the value of the book since the different authors are' all acknowledged experts and their varying perspectives. are beneficial to a reader seeking to formulate his own unbiased views.