Use of intravenous regional sympathetic block in upper limb angiography

An intravenous regional sympathetic block was produced in the upper limb using a Bier's technique and guanethidine. The dilatation produced allowed accurate delineation of the vasculature at angiography which could be reproduced after further injections of contrast medium. It is further suggested that this technique may be used immediately before tissue grafting as it may prevent vasoconstriction at any anastomotic sites.