title: Venous drainage, a simple method to prevent the systemic consequences of ischaemia-reperfusion injury in acute lower limb ischaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischaemia-reperfusion injury (I-R injury) is a recognised and potentially fatal complication following revascularisation of an ischaemic limb. Prevention of reperfusion injury is the focus of much research, but effective drug regimens have yet to be established into clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here we present a man with prolonged, severe lower limb ischaemia, successfully treated with a novel surgical technique for preventing I-R injury. Prior to revascularisation, the common femoral vein was cannulated and the harmful venous effluent was drained. The patient made an excellent recovery, the limb was salvaged and no systemic complications were encountered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Midwestern Regional Hospital, The University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. danielcoakley@gmail.com
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Grace
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D017128:Embolectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors