Delayed arterial embolectomy: A plea for a more active surgical approach

In a series of 18 patients delayed embolectomy of the limb was performed 8-63 days after embolism had occurred. Three patients died (2 of them after amputation), and 7 limbs were amputated after surgery. In 10 instances blood flow was fully restored by the operation. Analysis of the 18 cases leads to the conclusion that the success of delayed embolectomy where neuromuscular function is intact depends primarily on surgical technique. Direct embolectomy by local or regional exposure of the obstructed arterial level is shown to produce better results than conventional (distant) balloon catheter embolectomy by proximal incision. This is thought to be due to increased mural adherence of the embolus, with secondary thrombus formation after a delay of 8 days or more. A plea is therefore made for a more aggressive surgical attitude to delayed arterial embolization. Provided that preoperative arteriography has localized the obstructive level and that the patient's general condition allows major vascular surgery, direct removal of the embolus and secondary thrombi by open exposure of the obstructed artery is recommended.