Historical reflections on the management of acute limb ischemia.
The history of clot removal consists primarily of efforts at procedures, techniques, and instruments that had suboptimal performance. In the 1960s, the amputation and death rates following attempts at removal were as high as 50%. A wide variety of instruments were used but none were specifically designed for embolus and thrombus removal. The need was obvious but the problem was unresolved.
Fogarty
Thomas
T
Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5450, USA. tjf@fogartybusiness.com
D000208:Acute Disease; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D002404:Catheterization / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D017128:Embolectomy / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000266:history* / Q000295:instrumentation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome