Atherosclerosis is a generalized disorder, but the process in a given patient may be limited to one artery or even to a portion of a single artery and remain so for a considerable length of time. It is well known that persons with intermittent claudication may survive for many years without loss of the limb or any other serious cardiovascular complication. This is particularly true of the relatively younger patient with atherosclerotic occlusion of the lower abdominal aorta and its bifurcation but is also seen in the patient with chronic occlusion of the superficial femoral artery. The Natural History of Occlusion of the Superficial Femoral Artery We are all familiar with the elderly gentleman who has had intermittent claudication of his calves for as long at 5 to 10 years, who finally succumbs to a cerebrovascular accident or myocardial infarct without having had serious ischemic changes in the feet. Then,