title: The results of completion angiography after acute lower limb thromboembolectomy.
abstract: The results of completion angiography after acute thromboembolectomy with a Fogarty balloon catheter were evaluated. There were 62 patients (median age 72 years, range 44-92 years) and completion angiograms were made in 44 of them (71%). Incomplete runoff was demonstrated in 26 patients (59%) and rethromboembolectomy or vascular reconstruction was made in 18 cases (41%) under the same anaesthesia, while additional vascular surgery was technically impossible in 8 patients (18%). Supplementary surgery resulted in radiological improvement in 56% of operated cases. Reocclusion rate after 6 months was 50% in patients without patent tibials compared to 15% in patients with two or three patent tibial arteries (P less than 0.05). Eighteen patients had no completion angiograms after thromboembolectomy and 5 (28%) required early reoperation due to ischaemia. Completion angiograms are advocated in all cases of acute thromboembolectomy before the patient leaves the operating table.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palnaes Hansen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rasch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Holtveg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holstein
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*