EMBOLIZATION of major arteries has been recognized as a surgical emergency since before the turn of the century. Direct removal of an aortic saddle embolus was attempted by Ssabanajeff in 1895.1 Since that time numerous surgical advances have made the removal of arterial emboli a safe and established surgical procedure. Despite these advances there continues to be significant morbidity and mortality from major arterial emboli. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of our experience with major arterial emboli. Material During a 12-year period 78 patients under-went surgical treatment of arterial emboli. Eighty-one emboli occurred in these 78 patients. Seventy-seven emboli were treated surgically in 76 patients. There were 45 males and 33 females, ranging from 14 to 89 years in age. Figure 1 demonstrates the age distribution of these patients. Most were between the ages of 30 and 70 years. Distribution of emboli is shown