SURGICAL RESULTS ON ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION OF THE EXTREMITIES WITH SPEICAL REFERENCE TO ARTERIOSCLEROTIC THROMBOSIS

Abstract

The results of surgical treatment of acute arterial occlusion depend in its etiology. During a period of 15 years, from 1972 until 1987, arterial reconstrucitons for acute arterial occlusion were performed in 28 patients. Of these, occlusion was caused by embolism in 14 patients and by arteriosclerotic thrombosis in 14. In 14 ischemic limbs of the patients with embolism, simple embolectomy was performed with the Forgaty catheter. In patients with acute thrombosis of the arteriosclerotic artery, arterial bypass grafting or thromboendarterectomy was performed.Hospital death for embolectomy alone (0%) was lower than that for arteriosclerotic thrombosis (42%). Death was attributed to cardiac failure in 3 patients, panperitonitis in 2 patients and revascularization syndrome in 1 patient.The patency rate during hospitalization, including patients with a patent reconstructive tract at the time of death, was 100% in patients with embolism and 72% in those with arteriosclerotic thrombosis. Of the seven patients with arteriosclerotic thrombosis who were discharged from our clinic with limb salvage after operation, reconstructive tracts were patient in two and occluded in the others.The operative procedure should be tailored to the etiology of acute arterial occlusion.