Stonebridge P A, Clason A E, Duncan A J, Nolan B, Jenkins A M, Ruckley C V
Vascular Surgery Unit, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK.
Br J Surg. 1989 May;76(5):515-6. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800760527.
A series of 61 patients with acute upper limb ischaemia treated over a 5-year period is analysed and compared with patients presenting with acute lower limb ischaemia during the same period. The mean age was 74 years with a female to male ratio of 2.2:1. Eighty-two per cent were treated by operation. Three patients died and no survivors required a major or minor limb amputation, in contrast to a 5 per cent major limb amputation rate in patients with acute lower limb ischaemia. Mortality for upper limb ischaemia was 5 per cent compared with a 30 per cent mortality rate in patients with acute lower limb ischaemia in whom cardiopulmonary debility (New York Heart Association score 3-4) was significantly greater.
