The importance of plasma fibrinogen in vascular surgery.

The plasma fibrinogen concentration is directly related to blood viscosity, which in turn is inversely related to blood flow. The way in which the plasma fibrinogen level affects the clinical status of patients with peripheral vascular disease is discussed with reference to both retrospective and prospective studies of patients undergoing major arterial surgery. Animal experiments are described in which the effect of reducing the plasma fibrinogen level with oral clofibrate and parenteral Arvin (ancrod) on the patency of Dacron arterial grafts was studied.