[Surgical treatment of acute embolism of the upper extremity].
OBJECTIVE
To study the methods of surgical treatment and the prognosis of acute embolism of the upper extremity.


METHODS
Balloon catheter embolectomy through the brachial artery was performed in 18 patients with acute embolism of the upper extremity.


RESULTS
Both the pulse of the radial and ulnar artery could be palpated in 8 patients, either the pulse of the radial or ulner artery could be palpated in 9 patients. The temperature of the upper extremity was increased in the patient whose embolectomy was performed in the 6th day after onset of the illness. Three patients died postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Embolectomy through the brachial artery is an effective method to treat acute embolism of the upper extremity. Elderly and heart and pulmonary diseases are the high risk factors for postoperative death.
Fan
Long-hua
LH
Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Ye
Jian-rong
JR
Fu
Wei-guo
WG
Guo
Da-qiao
DQ
Chen
Bin
B
Yang
Jue
J
Jiang
Jun-hao
JH
Shi
Zhen-yu
ZY
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*