Plethysmography during aorto-iliac surgery.

Cardiac output, arterial and central venous pressures and calf blood flow were used to monitor patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery. Measurement of calf blood flow by means of venous occlusion plethysmography showed that measurable blood flow to the legs persisted after clamping of the aorta in patients with occlusive aortoiliac lesions and that the hyperaemic response following release of the clamp was reduced. Arterial hypotension after clamp release was of the same time course as the hyperaemia. Leg blood flow measurement was a valuable monitoring procedure.