Vasoactive intra-arterial therapy in peripheral occlusive arterial disease (with follow-up after 6.5 years)

After a review of the history of intra-arterial treatment, our personal experience with a complex treatment of 900 cases of arteriopathy of the lower extremities is reported. The conservative treatment includes stopping smoking, plus diet, exercise, B and C vitamins, and administration of 1% xylocaine (lidocaine) in the femoral arteries. Antibiotics are added in patients with trophic lesions. When treatment is followed regularly, a great increase in walking distance and healing of acral lesions can be expected. Many amputations have been prevented. Even in patients in whom the femoral artery can be found only with Doppler ultrasonography, the results are gratifying.