In critical ischemia without arterial run-off, it is possible to irrigate the ischemic limb by turning the course of the flow reversely through the venous system. The first experiments with therapeutic arteriovenous fistulas date from the beginning of the last century. They were performed in the proximal area of the lower limbs, but showed unfavorable results. Since the 1970's, with the pioneer studies of Lengua, fistulas started being extended to the foot and several publications have reported good outcomes. The authors report the evolution of a case of thromboangiitis obliterans which was submitted to the procedure. This is an accurate surgical procedure which requires arterial and venous preoperative study and the observance of technical operative details.
Venous arterialization; critical ischemia; therapeutic arteriovenous fistulas; limb salvage; thromboangiitis obliterans