Concierge vascular surgery · UK
Private femoral endarterectomy, by a consultant vascular surgeon.
The workhorse open vascular operation for common femoral artery disease — standalone, or as the open half of a hybrid procedure. Named consultant, VSGBI standards, and duplex surveillance built in.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant vascular surgeon, in theatre
A named vascular consultant on VSGBI standards — not a trainee, not a hybrid list you drop into blind.
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Open, endo, or hybrid — the right one
The common femoral artery is a place where open endarterectomy still beats stenting. We explain why, and when hybrid is smarter.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private femoral endarterectomy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner vascular units. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A standalone CFE in our network: £11,500–£16,500, home in two to four nights.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common femoral endarterectomy (standalone) | £11,500–£16,500 | 60–90 min | 2–4 nights |
| CFE with profundoplasty extension | £12,500–£18,000 | 75–120 min | 2–4 nights |
| Hybrid: CFE + iliac stent (same setting) | £15,500–£22,000 | 2–3 hours | 2–5 nights |
| CFE as inflow for fem-pop bypass | £17,500–£26,000 | 3–4 hours | 3–6 nights |
| Vascular consultation and duplex | £350–£650 | 45 min | Same visit |
| CTA aorta and lower limbs | £850–£1,400 | 30 min | 48 hours |
Prices vary by hospital, by the vascular surgeon and anaesthetist, by whether patch material is bovine pericardium or Dacron, and by any concurrent iliac stenting or bypass work. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Open, endovascular, hybrid — the right operation, in the right order.
The common femoral artery is one of the few vessels where open surgery still beats a stent — but only if the rest of the reconstruction is planned around it. That is what we get right.
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Stents fracture at the groin
The CFA flexes at the inguinal ligament and stents at that level have a poor record. Open endarterectomy is durable — patency above ninety per cent at ten years.
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Multi-level disease is common
Inflow disease above, outflow disease below — a hybrid procedure with iliac stenting and CFE (or CFE plus bypass) fixes both in one anaesthetic.
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A named consultant, not a list
A single vascular surgeon owning your case from consultation through duplex surveillance — with an anaesthetist chosen for you.
The journey
From enquiry to duplex surveillance — what happens, in order.
One vascular surgeon from first message through the operation to the six-week and one-year scans.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge and workup
Phase 2 · On the day
Theatre and HDU
Phase 3 · After
Recovery and surveillance
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Symptoms — claudication distance, rest pain, any wounds — and any prior scans or bypass surgery.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right vascular surgeon, whether duplex and CTA are enough or you need MRA, and an indicative price.
- 03
Before
Assessment and imaging
ABI, toe pressures, exercise test if claudication, duplex ultrasound and CTA or MRA to plan inflow and outflow. Cardiac risk optimised, statin and antiplatelet started.
- 04
On the day
Admission and anaesthetic
Admission the morning of surgery or the night before. General anaesthetic, spinal or epidural — or LA plus sedation for frail patients — decided with the anaesthetist.
- 05
On the day
The operation itself
Longitudinal groin incision, arteries exposed, plaque endarterectomy along the cleavage plane, and a bovine pericardium or Dacron patch. Sixty to ninety minutes for a standalone case.
- 06
On the day
HDU or vascular ward
One or two nights on HDU or the vascular ward with a small groin drain, low molecular weight heparin, and mobilising on day one.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Discharge day two to four, office work at four to six weeks, no heavy lifting for six weeks. Statin and antiplatelet lifelong, duplex surveillance at six weeks and one year.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to operation. Full recovery: 4–6 weeks.
When it helps
When femoral endarterectomy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Symptomatic CFA disease
Common femoral artery plaque causing calf or thigh claudication that limits walking distance and quality of life.
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Chronic limb-threatening ischaemia
Rest pain, non-healing wounds or tissue loss — CFE is often the first step to restore inflow to the leg.
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Inflow for fem-pop bypass
When SFA disease needs a bypass, an endarterectomised CFA is the preferred proximal anastomosis site.
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Outflow after iliac stent
A stented iliac artery needs a clean landing zone — endarterectomising the CFA protects the reconstruction.
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Hybrid with tibial endovascular
Open CFA repair combined with endovascular work below the knee — the modern hybrid approach to multi-level disease.
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EVAR or TAVR access repair
When a large-bore endovascular sheath damages the CFA, endarterectomy and patch repair rebuild the artery properly.
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CFA aneurysm or trauma
Occasional indication — a true CFA aneurysm, or repair after penetrating groin trauma.
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Red flag: acute limb ischaemia
A cold, pale, painful leg with sensory or motor loss is an emergency — call 999 or go to A&E, not to a clinic booking.
Reconstruction options
Endarterectomy is rarely one operation.
Every reconstruction on the table — from a standalone CFE with a patch to a hybrid case with iliac stenting and tibial angioplasty in the same anaesthetic.
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Standard CFE with patch
Longitudinal arteriotomy, plaque removed along the cleavage plane, closed with a bovine pericardium or Dacron patch. Primary closure is avoided — it narrows the vessel.
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CFE with profundoplasty
Endarterectomy extended into the profunda femoris artery — vital when the SFA is occluded and the profunda is the main outflow to the leg.
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Extended endarterectomy
Plaque removal extending into the origin of the SFA and PFA — for disease that runs beyond the CFA bifurcation.
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Hybrid: CFE plus iliac stent
Iliac stenting through the exposed CFA, then endarterectomy and patch — inflow and CFA fixed in a single anaesthetic.
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Hybrid: CFE plus tibial angioplasty
Open CFA repair with endovascular work below the knee in the same setting — the modern answer to multi-level occlusive disease.
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CFE as inflow for fem-pop bypass
The endarterectomised CFA becomes the proximal anastomosis for a bypass to the popliteal artery, using vein or prosthetic graft.
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Isolated profundoplasty
When the CFA is spared and disease is confined to the profunda origin, profundoplasty alone can restore outflow for a leg with SFA occlusion.
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Vascular consultation only
Duplex, ABI and an honest discussion of whether an operation is needed, and which reconstruction fits — no obligation.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of vascular surgeons, we picked them.
Consultant vascular surgeons across London and the major UK regional units. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every vascular surgeon in our network.
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Consultant vascular surgeons on the GMC specialist register
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VSGBI standards for open, endovascular and hybrid work
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HDU and 24-hour vascular cover on site
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Duplex surveillance protocol for every patient at six weeks and one year
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Femoral endarterectomy is a durable operation but it is still open vascular surgery in a heavily-scarred, lymph-rich area. The complications worth planning around are wound and cardiac.
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Groin haematoma and seroma
Five to fifteen per cent of cases. Usually settles with rest and compression; a large haematoma occasionally needs evacuation.
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Wound infection
Five to ten per cent — higher in patients with obesity, diabetes or a prosthetic patch. Antibiotics on induction, meticulous closure and early review keep the risk down.
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Lymphocoele and lymphorrhoea
Three to eight per cent of groin incisions leak lymph for a few days. Almost all settle with a dressing and time.
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Cardiac and pulmonary events
Vascular patients are cardiac patients — perioperative MI, arrhythmia and chest infection are the main serious risks, which is why optimisation and HDU matter.
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DVT and pulmonary embolism
Low molecular weight heparin from day one and early mobilisation reduce the risk. Compression stockings are used routinely.
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Restenosis over years
Late restenosis at the patch is around five to ten per cent at five years — one reason for duplex surveillance at six weeks and annually.
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Sexual dysfunction (bilateral inflow)
If both sides are done for aortoiliac inflow disease, sexual dysfunction is an uncommon but discussed risk. A one-sided CFE rarely affects it.
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Femoral nerve injury
Rare — the superficial femoral nerve runs close to the incision and a small area of thigh numbness is more common than motor weakness.
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Red flags after discharge
Sudden groin swelling, spreading redness, fever, a cold or painful leg — call the vascular team or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether it was a standalone CFE or a full hybrid case, the note the vascular surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Vascular language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and reconstruction
Why the operation was done — claudication, CLTI, inflow for bypass — and whether it was standalone CFE, hybrid or bypass inflow.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthetic, arteriotomy and patch
GA, spinal or LA plus sedation; longitudinal arteriotomy; endarterectomy of CFA, PFA and SFA origin; patch material (bovine pericardium or Dacron).
- 03 Findings
Plaque, distal vessels, back-bleeding
What the surgeon saw — plaque quality, condition of the profunda origin, back-bleeding from SFA and PFA, and any concurrent iliac or fem-pop work.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, medication, surveillance
Read this first: expected recovery, statin and antiplatelet plan, and when your first duplex scan is booked.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for femoral endarterectomy is standard when medically indicated — pre-authorisation is required and we handle the paperwork with the insurer and hospital before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about femoral endarterectomy.
Quick answers on why open still beats stenting at the groin, hybrid procedures, risks, and how it differs from carotid endarterectomy.
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Why is open endarterectomy still preferred at the common femoral artery?
The CFA sits at the inguinal ligament and flexes with every stride. Stents at this level fracture and occlude, so despite the appeal of endovascular treatment, open endarterectomy remains the gold standard — with ten-year patency above ninety per cent in published series.
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How is femoral endarterectomy done?
A longitudinal incision is made in the groin to expose the common, superficial and profunda femoral arteries. The vessel is clamped, opened lengthways, and the plaque is peeled away along its natural cleavage plane. The artery is then closed with a bovine pericardium or Dacron patch — never primary closure, which would narrow it.
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What is a hybrid procedure and when is it used?
A hybrid procedure combines open endarterectomy with endovascular work in the same anaesthetic — iliac stenting above the CFA, or tibial angioplasty below the knee. It fixes multi-level disease in one setting and is now the standard of care for many patients with combined inflow and outflow lesions.
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How long is recovery after femoral endarterectomy?
Most patients spend one to two nights in HDU or on the vascular ward, are mobilised on day one, and go home on day two to four. Office work resumes at four to six weeks, and no heavy lifting for six weeks. Statin and antiplatelet medication are lifelong.
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What are the main risks?
Groin haematoma five to fifteen per cent, wound infection five to ten per cent, lymphocoele three to eight per cent, perioperative cardiac events, and late restenosis around five to ten per cent at five years. Obesity, diabetes and prosthetic patch material increase wound complication rates.
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How much does private femoral endarterectomy cost in the UK?
A standalone CFE runs £11,500–£16,500. With profundoplasty extension it is £12,500–£18,000. Hybrid with iliac stenting is £15,500–£22,000, and CFE as inflow for a fem-pop bypass £17,500–£26,000. We confirm a firm figure within one working day.
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What is the difference between endarterectomy and bypass surgery?
Endarterectomy removes the plaque from inside the existing artery and closes it with a patch. Bypass creates a new conduit — vein or prosthetic — around a diseased segment. At the CFA, endarterectomy is preferred; below the knee, bypass or endovascular work is usually chosen.
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Is this the same procedure as carotid endarterectomy?
No. Carotid endarterectomy is done in the neck to reduce stroke risk. Femoral endarterectomy is done in the groin to restore blood flow to the leg. The technique is similar but the indication and the surgeon are different — see our page on carotid endarterectomy for the neck operation.
Related procedures
Looking for something else?
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Endarterectomy (carotid focus)
The umbrella endarterectomy page — most often the carotid operation to reduce stroke risk.
Learn more -
Femoro-popliteal bypass
Bypass around a diseased SFA — often built on an endarterectomised CFA.
Learn more -
EVAR (aortic aneurysm)
Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair — sometimes needs CFE for access site repair.
Learn more -
All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more