A TECHNIQUE FOR PROLONGED ARTERIAL INFUSIONS OF FIBRINOLYTIC AGENTS IN THE IMMEDIATE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD THROUGH A CUTANEOUS VENOSTOMY

Prolonged use of fibrinolytic agents post thrombectomy is limited by p resent techniques that require arterial puncture and indwelling arteri al catheters. This limitation can be avoided by attaching a short segm ent of saphenous vein to the arteriotomy used for the thrombectomy and bringing this out to the skin as a ''venostomy''; thus providing read y access to the vascular tree for arteriography, prolonged infusion of thrombolytic agents, or selective catheter placement. In delayed thro mbectomies (Categories 2 & 3 as described by the Ad Hoc Committee on R eporting Standards, J Vase Surg 1986;4:80-94), extending the use of th ese agents may represent the only hope for limb salvage.