Angiography and hemodynamic measurements in extensive soft tissue trauma to the extremity.

The early circulatory changes following extensive soft tissue injury to the hind leg of the dog was examined by angiography and by measurement of blood flow by an electromagnetic flowmeter. The trauma caused a marked increase of blood flow and vasodilatation in the injured extremity with or without combination of a fracture. The later gradual increase of calculated vascular peripheral resistance was angiographically reflected by successively impaired flow in peripheral arteries. In spite of the decrease of flow, the dilatation of the larger arteries persisted for several hours.