Lysis of Arterial Clots

Abstract

ADVANCES in vascular surgery techniques are largely responsible for the preservation of previously unsalvageable limbs. However, such techniques sometimes fail because of extensive clotting in the distal arterial tree which is not amenable to the usual operative approaches. A method has been developed for the dissolution of clots which may prove to be a useful adjunct to arterial surgery in the extremities and which may also be extended to other similar problems. This method utilizes large doses of fibrinolysin in an isolation perfusion system similar to that reported by Reid in 1962.3However, in this experiment, clot lysis is studied, in addition to the measurement of fibrinolytic activity, changes in peripheral pressure, and the long term results. Isolation perfusion techniques have been developed over the past few years mainly for the administration of cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Recently this method has been adapted for other uses. Isolation perfusion techniques have