Evaluation of the Severity of Organic Occlusive Disease and Comparison of the Effectiveness of Various Procedures in Relaxing Peripheral Vasospasm

Abstract

Both organic occlusion and vasospasm are usually present in peripheral arterial vascular diseases. The degree of occlusion and the probable effectiveness of treatment designed to relax vasospasm can both be determined by measurement of the maximum increase in cutaneous blood flow produced by suitable vasodilator procedures. These studies included warming the torso and/or injections of tetraethylammonium chloride or benzylimidazoline, and administration of spinal anesthetic. The effects obtained with all three methods were closely comparable. Cutaneous blood flow was estimated from recordings of skin, room and body temperatures.