Percutaneous atherectomy, using a Simpson atherectomy catheter, was performed in 70 patients (43 men, 27 women) whose average age was 72 years (range 42 to 87 years). Between June 1988 and July 1989 all patients with disease in suitable localisations were treated in this way. The Doppler sonographic index before treatment was 0.6 (SD = 0.15), after treatment 0.89 (SD = 0.13). Recurrence was 21% after six months and 29% after twelve months. Atherectomy is superior to balloon dilation in the treatment of solitary eccentric stenoses of the superficial femoral artery and of the popliteal artery.