SUCCESSFUL CONTROLLED LIMB REPERFUSION AFTER SEVERE PROLONGED ISCHEMIA

Controlled limb reperfusion was performed in two patients who were adm itted for lower limb-threatening ischemia as a result of embolism. Aft er embolectomy, the inflow blood was drained with a cannula and mixed with a crystalloid solution to obtain an hyperosmolar, hypocalcemic, a lkalotic, and substrate-enriched (aspartate, glutamate) reperfusate. T his reperfusate was reinjected with a roller pump for 30 minutes throu gh two cannulas inserted in the profunda and superficial femoral arter ies. Temperature, intraarterial pressures, and flow were closely contr olled. No complications occurred, and complete recovery of motor and s ensory functions were observed, with restoration of pedal pulses.