The aim of this paper is to present our six-year experience in the treatment of critical limb ischaemia, even if in the period (1987-1993) considered the definition of critical ischaemia had been partly reviewed in the publication of the "European Consensus Document on Critical Limb Ischaemia" (March 1989). Two hundred thirty-nine patients have been treated in our Unit for critical limb ischaemia: reconstructive surgery was used in 34% of cases, lumbar sympathectomy or spinal cord stimulation in 17% of cases and pharmacotherapy in 14% of cases. Taking into account arterial and graft patency as well as the percentage of limb salvage, our results were similar to those presented in the literature.