Electromagnetic blood flow measurement during extended deep femoral angioplasty

Electromagnetic flow measurements have been made on 53 patients undergoing extended deep femoral angioplasty. Flow measurements were made on the common femoral artery before reconstruction, after reconstruction and following an intra-arterial injection of papaverine. Flow measurements were correlated with the clinical outcome of the operation. The follow-up period varied between 6 and 30 months. There was no significant difference in follow-up period between the success and failure groups. The operation produced a significant increase in volume flow in both the success and the failure group. Flow velocities before and after reconstruction were, however, significantly higher in the success group. The results indicate that flow velocity measurement is preferable to volume flow measurement in assessing the long-term success of extended deep femoral angioplasty. A flow velocity of less than 5 cm per second achieved after reconstruction is likely to lead to failure; more than 10 cm per second indicates the likelihood of success.