FEMORAL-ARTERY OCCLUSION FOLLOWING PELVIC CANCER-SURGERY

Acute arterial occlusion in the lower extremities of patients with gyn ecologic cancers may not be immediately recognized in the postoperativ e period, despite the known risk of hypercoagulability associated with malignancy. Such delays in recognition and treatment can result in ir reversible but potentially preventable tissue injury. This report desc ribes three cases of acute arterial occlusion of the femoral and/or ex ternal iliac arteries in the immediate postoperative period following radical pelvic surgery. Two patients lost the involved limb due to irr eversible changes resulting from prolonged ischemia. One patient was d iagnosed while the involved limb was still viable and surgical revascu larization was successfully performed. These cases illustrate the pote ntial morbidity in unrecognized acute limb ischemia and the ease with which it may be overlooked. Systematic documentation of arterial paten cy is recommended in the postoperative period, noting peripheral pulse s and patient complaints related to the lower extremities. Rapid diagn osis and surgical intervention significantly increase the chance of ma intaining viability of the involved limb. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc .