Electric burns and frostbite: patterns of vascular injury.

This pattern of vascular damage after electrical burn or frostbite injury was studied angiographically in rabbits. Frostbite caused a progressive increase in the arterial and venous thrombosis after initial spasm as observed from 15 minutes to 48 hours. The electric injury caused serious vascular damage to be evident at 15 minutes with a slight progression continuing to 48 hours. Anticoagulation and a medical sympathectomy delayed the appearance of vascular injury but did not affect the ultimate vascular or tissue damage.