[Certain aspects of acute arterial thrombosis]

An analysis included 228 patients with the acute arterial thrombosis in the extremities. Over 33% of patients reported to the treatment later than 24 hours after the onset. This delay markedly worsened the results of therapy. Sixty two percent of limbs was saved. Mortality rate was 15%. The author analyse the results of therapy in relation to the localization of thrombi and type of the treatment--surgical, use of vasodilators with heparin or streptokinase. In case of thrombosis localized in the end segment of aorta the results were less promising than in case of more peripheral arterial involvement. Excellent and favourable results in this group amounted to 32%, the limb was amputated in 13% of patients and 28% of patients died. Hundred eighty patients were operated. Arteriosclerotic lesions to the arterial wall were detected in 97%. Excellent and favourable results of surgery were achieved in 45%, amputations amounted to 22%, and mortality rate was 16%. Vasodilators combined with heparin produced an improvement in 13% of patients in whom surgery could be postponed. The best results were achieved in patients treated with fibrinolytic agents with subsequent surgery or without it. In this group excellent and favourable results amounted to 57%, amputations--24%, and mortality rate--8%.