Acute arterial occlusion

Abstract

During the years 1969-1976, 66 patients were subjected to surgery for acute arterial occlusion. Arterial occlusion was due to emboli in 67% of the patients, and to acute thrombosis in 33%. There was no difference in the mean age for the two groups. More than 50% of the occlusions, embolic as well as thrombotic, were located in the femoral artery. In the upper extremities, all occlusions were embolic of origin and predominantly located to the right side. In the embolic group limb salvage rate was 93% and patient survival rate 82%. The corresponding figures for the thrombotic group were both 73%. There was no direct correlation between the number of amputations and the time interval from occlusion to operation in either of the two groups. In the embolic group, adequate backflow was reestablished in 82%, while the corresponding figure in the thrombotic group was only 45%.