[Contribution of epidural infiltration in the treatment of acute ischemia in the lower inoperable limbs (author's transl)].

Epidural infiltration easily causes without surgical intervention, paralysis of the sympathetic nervous system and analgesia. In this way, spasm and vasoconstriction are inhibited and the use of collateral vessels which are still permeable is facilitated. The antalgesic position of the dropped foot, which is a cause of oedema and hemodynamic disconfort, is eliminated. Out of 17 patients showing an acute ischemia of the lower limbs treated by this method, seven were cured, 3 of whom already having trophic disorders, 7 underwent local amputations and 3 had leg and thigh level amputations. Six months later 10 of these patients were doing well. The best therapeutic conditions of this treatment are non-atheromatous arteritis: angiospasm, toxic or inflammatory acute ischemia and Buerger's disease. On the other hand, the results are mediocre with atheromatous arteritis.