[Freezing of the extremity with acute ischemic gangrene before amputation]

This is a report on 153 patients (from 22 to 86 years of age) with acute ischemic gangrene of the lower limbs and severe concomitant diseases (ischemic heart disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, etc.). Freezing of the necrotic limb with application of a tourniquet and general medical treatment were performed previous to amputation. Freezing was accomplished by dry ice and common ice in 16 patients and by a special refrigerator in 137 patients. 17 patients in a very grave condition died during refrigeration. Amputation of the lower limb was performed in 136 patients, 110 of them tolerated the operation favourably. Complications of wound-healing were observed in 23.1%.