PREVENTION OF LIMB LOSS IN CRITICAL ISCHEMIA BY ARTERIALIZATION OF THE SUPERFICIAL VENOUS SYSTEM - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN DOGS

The possibility of ischaemic limb salvage by arterializing the superfi cial venous system was examined in a canine study. The experiment was carried out on lour healthy dogs in three stages. In the first stage, collateral circulation to the hind limb was abolished. In the second s tage, all branches of the common femoral artery were ligated, which cr eated a model of ischaemia incompatible with limb survival. Revascular ization was achieved by anastomosing the valvulotomized long saphenous vein to the common femoral artery, proximal to its ligation. The dogs were monitored for 2 weeks. All limbs maintained tissue oxygenation s imilar to that of the control contralateral limb. in the third stage, the artery was ligated proximal to the femoro-saphenous anastomosis an d the limb monitored for 7 hours. Acute lass of motor function of the limb resulted. In the present study, arterialization of the valvulotom ized long saphenous vein prevented limb loss in critical ischaemia. (C ) 1998 The International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.