EFFECT OF SYMPATHECTOMY ON BLOOD FLOW IN THE HUMAN LIMB

Abstract

[longdash]Blood flow estimations were made on the lower limbs of 12 patients with peripheral vascular disease. The effect of heat, of exercise, and of sympathectomy upon the foot and calf segments in the plethysmograph was studied, using the resting blood flow as the basic level and the increase in blood flow during reactive hyperemia as the max. level. In the foot, where blood flow is chiefly a function of skin vessels, sympathectomy causes a marked increase as does heat and exercise. However, even here sympathectomy does not result in a max. flow which is approached by the hyperemia following temporary vascular occlusion. In the calf, where blood flow is a function of the muscle vessels, sympathectomy results in an increase which can be attributed to the increase in skin circulation only. In contrast, heat and exercise or temporary vascular occlusion have a much greater effect because muscle vessels are also brought into play.