[Ischemic syndrome of the lower extremities from immersion in hot water]

The present paper deals with an ischaemic syndrome which may affect an area of lower limb vessels with latent arteriopathy if limbs or whole body are immersed in very warm water. Two cases are described in which ischaemia appeared when the limbs involved were immersed in warm water (38 degrees C). Ischaemia may be explained by the occurrence of both haemometakinesia and insufficient reserve blood flow in the limbs involved. Aged patients are particularly prone to such syndrome due to the particular anatomic features of the vascular system in old age.