Surgical experience with acute arterial occlusion in the upper extremities.

34 episodes of acute arterial occlusion in the upper limbs were treated surgically in 30 patients. In 32 cases the embolus was considered to have originated in the heart. In 27 cases the radial pulse was reestablished after the primary operative procedure and in 2 cases after an additional operative procedure. In 3 cases the pulse remained inpalpable and 2 amputations were needed. The earlier after the onset of the symptoms the operation was performed the better were the results. Two patients expired in the hospital during the first week after operation and there were 11 late deaths during the follow up period. The remaining 17 patients were followed for an average of 4.1 yrs. 15 of these patients have not shown any evidence of re-occlusion during the follow up period.