Limb preservation in replantation surgery.

Five patients are presented in whom a traumatically amputated extremity or digit was perfused with oxygenated Fluosol DA-20%. Perfusion lasted between 16 and 46 hours. Microcirculatory oxygenation was monitored using pO2 measurements. Moreover, K¿lactate, glucose, and ATP levels were measured and electron microscopic sections of the vessels were investigated at the end of the experiment. All above-mentioned parameters suggest that the tissue was sufficiently provided with oxygen and viable after many hours of perfusion. Conclusive evidence of the viability of a perfused digit was given by its successful replantation after 17 hours of Fluosol perfusion (at approximately 15 degrees C).