Management of early postoperative complications of arterial repairs.

Of 1,703 patients undergoing arterial procedures during a three-year period, 81 (4.7%) required reoperation within 72 hours because of early complications. Thrombosis (58 patients) and hemorrhage (19 patients) were the most frequent complications encountered. Reoperation was successful in salvaging a successful outcome in the majority of patients after both hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications. The results seem to justify a continued aggressive approach to the management of early complications following vascular reconstructive procedures.