Objective To explore the clinical experience on treatment of thromboangitis obliterans (TAO) by embolectomy. Methods Fourteen of 121 patients with TAO treated in our hospital from March 2000 to March 2010 were included in this study. Total 14 limbs consisted of 2 upper extremities and 12 lower extremities. Among these cases, 8 cases underwent embolectomy and 6 cases received embolectomy combined the stem cell transplantation. Results Of 14 cases of TAO patients, 11 cases were successfully treated by surgery and 3 cases failed. After successful operation, patient’s pain disappeared and anklebrachial index improved obviously. Seven patients treated successfully by surgery were followed up from 5 months to 8.5 years (mean 4 years), in whom the intermittent claudication and rest pain disappeared in 4 cases, and disease deteriorated in 2 cases who always smoked, and one case had intermittent claudication who stopped smoking. For 3 cases patients failed to operation, one lost followup, one had to receive a below knee amputation due to keep smoking after operation, and one case who stopped smoking underwent alleviative symptoms for 3 years. Conclusion Embolectomy is a safe and effective technique for treating TAO.