Prevention of ischemic damage using controlled limb reperfusion

Following prolonged limb ischemia, a reperfusion injury may occur with the reintroduction of unmodified blood, resulting in tissue loss and, in severe cases, limb loss. We have shown that the reperfusion injury in the heart can be minimized by using controlled reperfusion with a substrate-enriched cardioplegia solution prior to restoring normal blood flow. This article describes two clinical cases in which we used controlled reperfusion in an ischemic limb to prevent limb loss. It demonstrates that a controlled, substrate-enhanced, hypocalcemic, leukodepleted, modified blood reperfusate solution can minimize limb reperfusion damage and improve functional recovery. This preliminary experience is presented to familiarize surgeons with this form of treatment and to describe the solutions and method of administration that can be used to avoid the devastating complications of severe limb ischemia.