title: Peripheral arterial embolectomy in the aged.
abstract: A series of 65 geriatric patients, operated upon for 76 peripheral arterial embolic events, is presented. The underlying condition was rheumatic heart disease in 8 and arteriosclerotic in 57. No patient was denied surgery unless widespread irreversible ischemia of the limb was present. Limb salvage was accomplished in 35 patients (54%). It was influenced by age, the underlying disease and time elapsed until resumption of circulation to the limb. The mortality rate experienced in this series was very high. 31 patients (48%) died postoperatively, mainly from cardiorespiratory failure. Death was related to the severity of the patients condition before surgery. 29 out of the 34 surviving patients were discharged with a viable limb. The high death rate observed is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors