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In this study 624 trochanteric and subtrochanteric femoral fractures have been assessed retrospectively with regard to stability of the fracture, reduction, internal fixation, healing and weight bearing. It is seen that stable fractures pose no serious problems. In the group of unstable fractures, varus displacement and perforation by the nail of the head of the femur occurred because of lack of stability of the McLaughlin apparatus. Results of a device with a fixed angle and a sliding screw nail are compared.

Wash-out of 133xenon from a local depot in the subcutaneous adipose tissue in the forefoot was measured continuously during 24 hours on subsequent recordings in 51 feet (normal circulation: 10, intermittent claudication: 22 and ischaemic nocturnal rest pain: 19) with a mean time interval of 26 days (range: 3-90 days). The patients were studied under two different conditions. Firstly, during the day in the erect position, awake (sitting, standing and quiet walking) and secondly, during night hours in the supine position, asleep. The coefficient of variation of nocturnal adipose tissue blood flow was calculated to 10%, and for the ratio of blood flow from day to night to 5%. The method is thus considered apt as a monitor in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, for example, surgery and medical therapy. As predominant source of error is the formation of oedema.

The systolic pressure observed in 150 patients with peripheral arterial disease has been compared to their symptoms and signs. In patients with claudication the ankle mean pressure was 58 mmHg. In patients with rest pain it was 33 mmHg and in patients with chronic ulcerations it was 20 mmHg. In these 3 groups the mean ankle-foot pressure gradient was low (2-10 mmHg) were detected at the level of the iliaco-femoral and femora-popliteal segments. In the group of diabetic patients an high gradient was observed. Patients with peripheral arterial disease can be divided in four symptomatic groups but the angiographic and physiological patterns of patients with rest pain and ischemic ulcerations are similar and they are the best candidates to reconstructive arterial surgery.

The tissue-to-blood partition coefficient for Xenon (lambda Xe) in the subcutaneous tissue in the forefoot was determined by physical and chemical analysis. The difference between patients with normal circulation (n = 10) and serve ischaemia (n = 13) was insignificant; pooled mean: 7.42 +/- 1.57 ml x g-1. The lambda Xe in the forefoot was significantly lower than lambda Xe of the abdominal wall (lambda Xe - abd: 8.67 +/- 1.27 ml x g-1; P = 0.03). The influence of oedema on the local blood flow [in ml x (100 g x min)-1] and on the post-reconstructive hyperaemia (in ml x min-1) is discussed. It is concluded that local blood flow determinations, based on 133Xenon wash-out rates, in individual cases, are not possible. In subcutaneous tissue with low lipid contents, the ratio between the post- and preoperative wash-out rates tend to underestimate the post reconstructive hyperaemia. This is due to the volume increase of the subcutaneous tissue being larger than the decrease of the tissue-to-blood partition coefficient due to the oedema.

In a double-blind cross-over trial an oral thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (TSI) or placebo was given to 15 patients with severe foot ischaemia. After TSI therapy, rest pain remitted in nine out of 14 legs, while remission during placebo was seen in three out of 11 legs (NS). The ankle and toe systolic blood pressures remained constant during both study periods. Nocturnal adipose tissue blood flow in the forefoot was measured by the xenon wash-out method. A significant increase of the nocturnal perfusion rate constant during TSI therapy was found. A slight oedema developed during TSI therapy. This causes a change of the composition of the tissue under study and thus of lambda-xenon. The perfusion rate in the present study thus merely illustrates the latter and not a true increase in blood flow.

Four patients with bilateral arterial insufficiency were treated with i.v. hydroxyethylrutoside for three days (1.5 grs twice a day). All patients experienced relief of symptoms. By continuous registration of subcutaneous nutritional blood flow in the forefoot (by 133Xenon clearance technique) a significant increase in nutritional blood flow of 33% on the average during the second and third hour after medication could be demonstrated. The drug seems to be of use in treating subacute occlusions and thrombosis of arteries in the lower extremity.

This retrospective study of 279 embolectomies in 252 patients shows a mortality of 27%, and an amputation rate of 15% within the first month after the embolectomy. The mortality as well as the rate of amputations decreased through the first year. After this period the mortality was comparable to that of a normal population and the rate of amputation was negligible. The mortality rate as well as the number of amputations increased with increasing time-lag of the embolectomy. In addition, the rate of amputation increased with preexisting intermittent claudication. There was no significant difference in amputation rate between limbs with and without palpable pulsations in the groin on admission, but 8 out of 103 limbs without groin pulsations had successful major vascular reconstruction performed after failing embolectomy in contrast to none in the group where pulsations were present. In 28 patients the embolectomy was followed by impairment of renal function and 14 of these died. It is concluded that embolectomy must be performed as early as possible, vascular reconstruction must be considered if the embolectomy fails to revascularize the limb, preventive measures should be taken against renal failure, i.e. the myonephropathic-metabolic syndrome.

We have studied the circulatory changes in the lower extremities after reconstructive vascular surgery in ten patients with intermittent claudication. The following examinations were carried out 3 days before, 3 days, and 28 days after the operation: measurement of ankle systolic blood pressure, calf plethysmography, resting calf muscle blood flow and resting subcutaneous foot blood flow. The vasoconstrictor response (veno-arteriolar reflex) was also assessed. On the night before the operation and on the 28th night after aorto-bifemoral bypass surgery, subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow in the forefoot was measured during sleep. The ankle systolic blood pressure and the ankle index rose significantly. The former increased from 57 +/- 16.4 mmHg to 93 +/- 24.0 mmHg (mean +/- S.E.M.) and was still elevated on the 28th postoperative day. The total limb blood flow, the muscle blood flow and the blood flow in the subcutaneous tissue of the forefoot during daytime were unchanged. In contrast, the blood flow in the forefoot during sleep increased significantly from 3.5 +/- 1.63 ml x (min x 100 g)-1 to 5.2 +/- 2.14 ml x (min x 100 g)-1 (mean +/- S.E.M.) on the 28th night. The vasoconstrictor response was potentiated, and increased from 27% before the operation to 45% on the third postoperative day. This change was maintained 28 days postoperatively. In conclusion the increase in arterial blood pressure was only reflected in the vasoconstrictor response which had returned to normal by the third postoperative day and nocturnal blood flow in the subcutaneous adipose tissue which did likewise.

In a series of 38 consecutive patients with advanced peripheral vascular disease (i.e. rest pain) reconstructive vascular surgery was performed with the distal anastomosis below the knee. Ankle/arm pressure index (AAI) was 0.28 (0.11-0.47) preoperatively; accumulated graft patency rate was 0.47 (SD = 0.08) after one year, after three years 0.22 (SD = 0.08). At follow-up (June 83) 34 patients were still alive, 11 patients with patent grafts and an AAI of 0.87 (0.74-1.01). During the study 19 patients required amputation. Seven patients had an occluded graft, but had avoided amputation. Although the prognosis in regard to graft patency is poor, we still suggest that distal vascular surgery should be considered prior to primary amputation.

In a patient who had sustained bullet wounding 9 years previously, acute appendicitis was associated with presence of a bullet in the appendix. The case is described.

Tissue/blood partition coefficients (lambda) for xenon were calculated for subcutaneous adipose tissue from the abdominal wall and the thigh, and for the perirenal adipose tissue after chemical analysis of the tissues for lipid, water and protein content. The lambda in the perirenal tissue was found to correlate linearly to the relative body weight (RBW) in per cent with the regression equation lambda = 0.045 . RBW + 0.99. The subcutaneous lambda on the abdomen correlated linearly to the local skinfold thickness (SFT) with the equation lambda = 0.22 SFT + 2.99. Similarly lambda on the thigh correlated to SFT with the equation lambda = 0.20 . SFT + 4.63. It is concluded that the previously accepted lambda value of 10 is generally too high in perirenal as well as in subcutaneous tissue. Thus, by application of the present regression equations, it is possible to obtain more exact estimates of the adipose tissue blood flow measured with the 133Xe wash-out method.

The results obtained in 38 patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux who had been submitted to operation by Boerema's method are presented. Twenty-nine (76%) became entirely symptomfree and eight (21%) experienced reduction of symptoms. Postoperative oesophageal stenosis was demonstrated in five patients.

Local blood flow in the forefoot (SBF) was measured continuously during 24 hours by 133xenon clearance technique in 10 patients prior to and at least 1 year after successful reconstructive vascular surgery for severe arterial insufficiency (mean: 18 months, range: 12-36). A group of 10 patients with normal peripheral circulation served as a control group. In spite of a considerable increase of the ankle/arm systolic blood pressure index--preoperative: 0.30 +/- 0.12, postoperative: 0.78 +/- 0.28 (mean +/- 1 SD)--the SBF decreased by 50% (p less than 0.001) following reconstructive vascular surgery during day activities. During sleep, however, SBF increased by 80% (p less than 0.001). The relative changes in SBF from day to night at the postoperative examination did not differ from that of the control group, i.e., the normal 24-hour blood flow pattern had been obtained. These changes in SBF are explained by the reappearance of peripheral vasoregulatory mechanisms. Postreconstructive hyperemia was evaluated by the same technique. The changes in SBF following surgery in the positions supine, awake and supine, asleep were found to be insignificant (0.80 less than p less than 0.90). It is concluded that the long-term postreconstructive hyperemia merely is a reflection of the normal 24-hour blood flow pattern.

In order to evaluate if elevation of the ischaemic limb above heart level is an alternative to the conventionally applied method with external counterpressure for estimation of skin perfusion pressure, femoral and popliteal artery pressures were measured directly in eight patients with occlusion of the superficial femoral artery. The measurements were done in the horizontal position and during elevation of the calf above heart level. During elevation relative blood flow, measured by arterio-venous oxygen saturation differences, decreased compared with the horizontal position. In contrast the popliteal arterial pressure decreased only by 20% of the value expected from the degree of elevation of the calf above the level of the heart. Thus, it could be calculated that calf vascular resistance increased two- to three-fold on average during elevation. Four patients were reexamined with the venous pressure kept at 10 mmHg during elevation. In these patients, the increase in vascular resistance was significantly less compared with the situation in which venous pressure was 0 mmHg during elevation. The arterial pressure still did not decrease. It is concluded that perfusion pressure in the ischaemic lower extremity cannot be determined non-invasively by elevation of the extremity, probably due to collapse of segments of the vascular bed increasing the vascular resistance considerably.

A method for continuous measurement of subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow in the forefoot during 24 hours (SBF) is described. The method is based on the radioisotope wash-out principle using 133-Xenon. A portable semiconductor detector is placed just above a local depot of 1-2 microCi 133-Xenon in 0.1 ml isotonic saline injected into the subcutaneous adipose tissue in the forefoot. The detector is connected to a memory unit allowing for storage of data. Due to the short distance, the recorded elimination rate constant must be corrected for combined convection and diffusion of the radioactive indicator. Characteristic 24-hour blood flow patterns were unveiled in patients with normal peripheral circulation and in patients having ischaemic nocturnal rest pain. In normals SBF doubled from day to night. This is ascribed to the local veno-arteriolar sympathetic axon reflex, which induces arteriolar vasoconstriction when the transmural pressure of the veins exceeds approximately 25 mmHg. In patients having ischaemic rest pains SBF was reduced by 37% on the average from day to night. This was caused by nocturnal hypotension, which is reflected proportionally in the foot. As the resistance vessels most probably are fully dilatated in feet with rest pain, the blood pressure drop during sleep causes the perfusion pressure and thus blood flow to come below a certain critical limit. There was a pronounced correlation between the reduction of systemic mean arterial blood pressure and SBF. The patients complaining of intermittent claudication, but no rest pains showed a variety of changes in SBF compatible with the continuous spectrum of the peripheral arteriosclerotic disease. After reconstructive vascular surgery, the 24-hour blood flow pattern normalized although the ankle/arm systolic blood pressure index did not come within normal range. SBF during day-time activities decreased by up to 50% postoperatively. This is caused by the reappearance of the local, sympathetic, veno-arteriolar vasoconstrictor response. During sleep SBF increased by 71%. The term postreconstructive hyperaemia seems improper, at least in a long-term context, normalization of preoperative ischaemia is a more correct notation. The coefficient of variation of nocturnal SBF was calculated to 10%. The method thus seems apt as a monitor in medical therapy for occlusive arterial disease. Changes of lambda has, however, to be considered in each study.