Reversibility of Pregangrene in the Severely Ischaemic Limb

Abstract

The over-all impression regarding the inevitability of amputation in the severely ischaemic limb must be re-evaluated in the light of the present practicability of arterial-grafting. In most of the patients the determination as to whether such a procedure should be contemplated is decided by the use of arteriography. This is a simple procedure and, since we now have a better than 75 per cent salvage rate in severely ischaemic limbs, we use it in all such cases as the single most important means of determining the form of treatment—grafting, sympathectomy, or amputation—to be employed.