Acute Peripheral Arterial Occlusions

Abstract

MOST acute occlusions of the major arteries of the extremities, regardless of cause, are best treated at present by surgical means. With modern vascular surgery, the goal of therapy is not merely preservation of life and limb but also restoration of distal blood flow in the limb and return of function to the preocclusive state — or even beyond, in some cases in which acute occlusions are superimposed upon chronic insufficiency. The most important factors in successful surgical therapy have been the Fogarty balloon catheter and arteriography.Although upper-extremity occlusions do not pose the hazards found in the lower extremity, . . .