Haemodynamic Factors in the Oedema of Arterial Reconstructions

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Abstract
Eighty patients were operated upon for arteriosclerosis of the lower limb and peroperative measurements of flow and pressure were performed. The patients were examined for oedema of the foot and leg postoperatively and were also screened for deep-vein thrombosis. Twenty-two patients were found to develop oedema after arterial reconstruction. Two of these had deep-vein thrombosis. The oedema group had significantly higher pre-operative pressure gradients than the rest of the patients and also had significantly higher blood flow after reconstruction. Changes of the vascular wall due to the lowered pressure distal to the arteriosclerosis is thought to be the cause of the hyperaemia and oedema after arterial reconstruction, as the vascular wall is damaged by the sudden rise in distal pressure after reconstruction.