After 5 years of observation, materials of 239 patients treated operatively and 96 patients treated conservatively because of multisegmental
arterial occlusion of lower limbs were obtained within the framework of multi-central programme of investigation. The results of the treatment with these methods have been evaluated according to the site of the atheromatous changes and the degree of
ischemia of lower limbs. It has been ascertained, that after operative
therapy, the percentage of good results and the percentage of death in the case of occlusion comprising the aorto-ilio-femoral segment is higher than in the case of occlusion of femoro-popliteal and peripheral segments, whereas in the case of
conservative therapy, the situation is reverse. The results of
therapy (operative and conservative) of multilevel
arterial occlusion, in all kinds of location, depend upon blood supply in the limbs. The results are best (the highest percentage of good results and without improvement, the least number of
amputation and death) in the II period of disease and they become worse when the degree of
ischemia increases. It appears that the operative
therapy is less effective than the
conservative therapy in the case of atheromatous multilevel changes manifesting clinically in the form of
intermittent claudication, whereas in the case of the IV degree of
ischemia, only the operation can save the limb or even the patient's life.