title: [Surgical treatment of acute embolism of the upper extremity].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Long-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jian-rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Wei-guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Da-qiao
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jun-hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Zhen-yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: 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*