Acute arterial thrombosis in the very young

E L Chaikof1, T F Dodson, A A Salam

  • 1Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.

Journal of Vascular Surgery
|September 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Surgery for acute arterial thrombosis in infants is safe but has limited success. Thrombectomy can restore pulses in over half of affected limbs, but long-term results are often insufficient.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery
  • Neonatal Medicine

Background:

  • Acute arterial thrombosis in infants under six months is rare.
  • Iatrogenic causes are the primary concern in this patient population.
  • Early diagnosis is crucial for limb salvage.

Observation:

  • Seven infants with nine ischemic limbs underwent surgical intervention.
  • Infants were neonates to 5.5 months old, weighing under 5 kg.
  • Diagnosis relied on clinical signs and absence of Doppler signals.

Findings:

  • Various thrombectomy techniques were employed, including aortoiliac and femoral artery procedures.
  • Restoration of palpable pulses occurred in 56% of limbs, with Doppler signals in others.
  • No limb loss was reported, but long-term patency after thrombectomy was variable.

Implications:

  • Thrombectomy is a feasible surgical option for infant arterial thrombosis.
  • Surgical outcomes require careful consideration due to potential for incomplete or non-durable success.
  • Further research into optimizing surgical techniques and long-term management is warranted.

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