Prostaglandin E1 from the tip of an intraaortic balloon catheter for lower limb ischemia.

A method to treat lower limb ischemia associated with the insertion of an intraaortic balloon catheter is herein reported. A low dose of prostaglandin E1 was administered into the descending aorta continuously from the tip of the intraaortic balloon catheter. Immediately after the administration of prostaglandin E1 in patients whose lower limbs were ischemic due to obstruction with the catheter, the peripheral circulation of the ischemic limbs recovered with minimal changes in the systemic arterial blood pressure. This method is simple and noninvasive and was found to induce a satisfactory effect.