STATIONARY WAVES OF THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL ARTERIES

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Abstract
Stationary arterial waves were demonstrated in the superficial femoral arteries of a 29 yr. old woman following emboli to the left renal and both popliteal arteries. Angiocardiography showed that left atrial thrombi due to advanced rheumatic valvular heart disease were the cause of these. Anticoagulant treatment was prescribed. Despite this, further embolization, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart failure recurred, requiring open-heart surgery for the mitral stenosis and removal of the atrial thrombi. She was improved, although electrical conversion of atrial fibrillation was subsequently needed. The case is chiefly of interest because of the stationary arterial waves. These were also reported in the peripheral vascular, visceral, and extra-cranial arteries. A mechanical explanation for these was proposed by Theander in 1960, and this was recently confirmed by Mayall, who, with the use of a glass model, demonstrated that disturbances of the interfaces of blood and contrast medium owing to rippling and obstruction to blood flow produced stationary waves during arteriography. This theory confirms the innocent nature of the phenomenon and makes unnecessary intraarterial medication, which was originally advocated because the stationary waves were attributed to arterial spasm. It also disposes of the enigma of their origin and appearance during arteriography.

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