[Treatment of acute cerebral ischaemia with low-molecular dextran: results of a retrospective study (author's transl)]

Between 1968 and 1970, 226 patients with acute cerebral ischaemia were treated with vasodilator drugs. In the subsequent three years (1971 to 1973) 202 patients were instead treated with dextran (Rheomacrodex) infusions. tin the latter period the death-rate was 35%, 19% less than during the preceding period of vasodilator treatment. In the dextran group among patients over 65 years the death-rate was 42%, 21% less than in the vasodilator group of the same age. Dextran treatment caused complete disappearance of neurological signs in 25%, compared with 7.5% in the vasodilator group. Dividing patients into those with normal blood pressure, hypertension and diabetes gave corresponding differences among the two groups. The death-rate during the period of dextran treatment was significantly less in all the sub-groups than in the vasodilator years. The results of this retrospective study provide important pointers to the effectiveness of dextran infusion in the treatment of acute cerebral ischaemia.

An index of healing in below-knee amputation: leg blood pressure by Doppler ultrasound

Preoperative Doppler ultrasonic assessment of below-knee (BK) arterial signals and systolic blood pressures was performed on 50 patients undergoing 53 BK amputations for advanced ischemia. No patient was excluded from initial BK amputation unless gangrene at that level or severe joint contracture was present. Failure of healing of the BK amputation occurred in all five limbs with an undetectable Doppler arterial signal (and thus pressure) below the knee. Failure of amputation occurred in four of 16 limbs with detectable arterial signals and BK pressures less than 70 mm. Hg. Healing occurred in all 32 limbs with BK pressures greater than 70 mm. Hg. The differences in healing between these three groups are highly significant (p less than 0.005). This study suggests that Doppler ultrasonic assessment of BK arterial signals and pressures may be a simple hemodynamic correlate of healing of a BK amputation. Absence of a detectable arterial signal below the knee may be an indication for initial above-knee (AK) amputation in advanced ischemia.

Comparison of long-term results of 364 femoropopliteal or femorotibial bypasses for revascularization of severely ischemic lower extremities

Successful revascularization of the severely ischemic lower extremity can be achieved by femorotibial as well as femoropopliteal bypass. The incidence of delayed graft occlusion after salvage of the severely ischemic lower extremity is low in patients with femorotibial or femoropopliteal bypass. Femorotibial bypass was performed in over one-third of patients undergoing bypass. Tibial bypasses resulted in effective prolonged revascularization of the severely ischemic lower extremity. An aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach to revascularization of the severely ischemic lower extremity can result in prolonged limb salvage by tibial or popliteal bypasses in lieu of primary amputation.

Aorto-iliac reconstruction with special reference to the extraperitoneal approach

We have used the extraperitoneal approach for aorto-iliac reconstruction for lower limb ischaemia in over 130 patients. The operative exposure is excellent. Operating time is shortened and the upset to the patient much less than in the transperitoneal approach. We now believe that the method is suitable for use in the majority of aorto-iliac reconstructions. Patency rate 4 years after surgery for claudication is 89 per cent.

Ischemic bowel disease

The clinical, radiologic and pathologic features of 25 cases of ischemic bowel disease are presented. The majority of patients presented with the triad of abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. In 13 patients the diarrhea was associated with the passage of bright red blood per rectum. There were 10 cases of infarction, 11 of enterocolitis and 4 had resulted in stricture formation. In five cases of enterocolitis the lesion was transient; symptoms improved with conservative medical management and the radiologic findings returned to normal. Barium enema examination yielded abnormal findings in the majority of the cases in which it was performed. Plain films of the abdomen, however, were not helpful. The actual mortality in this group of patients was 44%, 80% in those with infarction of the bowel and 20% in the other two groups.

Resistance to post-traumatic fluid loss at different ages

The ability to withstand post-traumatic fluid loss in a thermoneutral environment has been studied in the rabbit during the first 3 weeks of life.

The LD₅₀ period of bilateral hind-limb ischaemia, calculated by probit analysis, fell from birth to the 10th day of life and then returned to the 1-2 day level by the 22nd day.

The difficulties of defining the acute injury to the animal are discussed and it is concluded that the fluid loss from the circulation expressed as a fraction of the plasma volume or total body water is the most precise. To compare the resistance of different age groups the fluid loss required to kill one half of a group of rabbits (i.e. the fluid loss following an LD₅₀ period of ischaemia) was calculated at each age studied. When the changes in body composition with age had been taken into account the 1-2 day-old rabbit was more resistant to post-traumatic fluid loss in a thermoneutral environment than the older animal. The possible clinical significance of these results is briefly discussed.