[An experimental study of the effect of fluorocarbon perfusion for amputated limb preservation. The effect of inhibition for replantation toxemia and muscle tissue destruction].

In replantation surgery, it is widely accepted that replantation toxemia or muscle destruction in replanted limbs might occur after a long time of ischemia. Their possibilities are particularly high after replantation of the amputated limbs which contain more muscle tissue than tendon and bones. The present study was performed to investigate the efficacy of fluorocarbon (FC: artificial blood) perfusion to the amputated limbs in preventing these problems after replantation. The hind limbs of dogs were completely amputated at mid-thigh. Amputated limbs were divided into two groups. One was stored in ice water and the other at room temperature for six hours. Each group was furthermore divided into four subgroups. The amputated limbs were perfused with oxygenated FC or Hartmann's solution before replantation and remaining limbs were not perfused. All of them were replanted under an operating microscope. The results were as follows: Perfusion with FC had an inhibiting effect on the anaerobic metabolism in an amputated limb and also decreased the rate of death due to replantation toxemia. Perfusion with FC was effective for inhibiting leakage of creatine phosphokinase from the replanted limb and preventing muscle destruction. Both these effects were detected biochemically and histologically. The reactive hyperemia of the replanted limb usually occurred after replantation. This rate, however, was significantly decreased after replantation of the amputated limb perfusion with FC. These effects described above were more remarkable when the amputated limb was perfused continuously rather than intermittently. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that for prevention of systemic ill effect after replantation and for preservation of function of the amputated limb, continuous perfusion with FC in ice water is more effective than ice water cooling alone.