Surgical experience with acute arterial occlusion in the upper extremities

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Acute arterial occlusion in the upper limbs is a serious condition often caused by emboli originating from the heart.
• Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for limb salvage and patient survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of surgical treatment for acute arterial occlusion in the upper limbs.
• To determine the impact of timing of surgery on treatment success.
• To assess long-term patency and survival rates after surgical intervention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 34 surgical procedures for upper limb arterial occlusion in 30 patients.
• Identification of embolus origin, primarily cardiac.
• Assessment of radial pulse restoration, need for secondary procedures, and amputation rates.

Main Results:

• Successful reestablishment of radial pulse in 29 out of 34 cases (primary or secondary procedures).
• Two amputations were required in cases with persistent non-palpable pulse.
• Earlier surgical intervention correlated with better outcomes.
• Hospital mortality was low (2 patients), with 11 late deaths during follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Surgical management of acute upper limb arterial occlusion, particularly when due to cardiac emboli, is effective.
• Timely surgical intervention is paramount for successful limb salvage.
• Long-term follow-up indicates a low rate of re-occlusion in successfully treated patients.