[Postoperative control of blood flow in arterial surgery: results of electromagnetic blood flow measurement (author's transl)].

An electromagnetic blood flow cuff probe was implanted up to 4 days in 50 patients to control basal blood flow through a femoro-popliteal vein graft. Patent grafts showed increasing blood flow due to hyperemia with maximum on the 2. p. op. day. The level of the postoperative hyperemia and the increase of blood flow caused by intraarterial papaverine injection during operation were in the same range. The method and the extension of analgesia influenced the degree of postoperative hyperemia. Pain and blood loss diminuished graft flow. Patients with epidural block and sufficient blood volume produced a significant higher graft flow than patients with morphine analgesia. 2 patients had early occlusion of the graft, 2 others showed occlusion at the distal anastomosis. These complications could be easily detected by blood flow measurement and were successfully corrected in two patients. Moreover, electromagnetic postoperative blood flow control may be helpful in patients with proximal a.v. shunt for hemodialysis.