Alterations in Femoral Blood Flow and Resistance Following Sympathetic Blockade

Abstract

Hemodynamic alterations in the lower extremity produced by epidural blockade have been studied in patients with and without femoral-popliteal occlusion. In patients without major arterial occlusion, there was a significant increase in femoral blood flow and a decrease in femoral resistance. Response in patients with occlusive disease was varied, but the majority of patients had no significant increase in femoral blood flow and only a slight fall in femoral resistance. From these studies, it is concluded that benefical resutls from sympathetic denervation will be limited to a small group of patients with occlusive arterial disease. Selection of patients for sympathectomy, therefore, must be based on objective evidence of the ability to increase significantly the circulation distal to an obstruction.