Peripheral arterial emboli and factors in their recurrence rate.

One hundred six patients who underwent a total of 141 operations, on 156 limbs for peripheral arterial emboli from 1964 to 1979 were studied. The average age of the patients was 68.5 years. The source of the emboli in 76.4% of the patients was arteriosclerotic heart disease and atrial fibrillation. The presenting clinical symptoms and signs were the most accurate determinate of limb salvage. Our overall limb salvage was 86.5% and in the survivor population 93.9%. The overall hospital mortality was 21.7%. There were much higher morbidity and mortality rates associated with each subsequent embolic event. Particular attention was paid to factors related to recurrent emboli. The use of antigoagulants in the post embolectomy period does not have a statistically significant effect of preventing recurrent emboli.