The axillodistal extra anatomic bypass is not an operation commonly performed and the only reason for performing it is to attempt limb salvage for a reasonable period of time or until death in patients with critical ischaemia. During the period 1983-1991 we performed 67 such bypasses where no other form of reconstructive arterial surgery was feasible. There were 27 axillopopliteal (15 below and 12 above the knee), five crossover, seven bilateral, 11 axillotibial and 17 jump (sequential bypasses). The first 34 procedures (1983-1987, early period) had a 5-year cumulative secondary graft patency of 20%, which increased to 33% for the 33 bypasses performed during the second period (1987-1991). The primary graft patency of the 67 bypasses was 13%. Our clinical results show that even in these patients with diffuse occlusive arterial lesions, limb salvage is possible in a reasonable number even when axillodistal bypass is used. Improvements in the technique, better selection of patients, the performance of jump grafts and the aggressive treatment of early and late graft occlusions have led to much better results being achieved.