Retrograde embolectomy via the tibial artery was performed for 24 episodes of embolization in 16 patients threatened with gangrene after failure of embolectomy through the femoral artery. All limbs were salvaged. Indications for application of this technique included the difficulty of traversing the popliteal artery bifurcation, embolization, or propagation of thrombus beyond reach of the embolectomy catheter, and impaction of atheromatous debris or adherence of propagated thrombus.