Vascular thrombosis induced by direct electric current. A new technique for therapeutic embolisation; animal experimentation; first clinical applications.

A first series of experiments showed that the passage of a direct current along a positive electrode immersed in heparinised blood caused the formation of an adhering clot whose diameter increased with time and current intensity. A second series of experiments was done on 10 rabbits as follows: under general anaesthesia, a catheter used as a guide to the positive electrode was surgically inserted in the abdominal aorta. The negative electrode was placed on the thigh. A direct current (10 mA, 10V) was applied for 10-20 min. The first two clinical applications in man of this new method of treatment by electric current thrombosis were carried out using catheterisation of branches of the external carotid and cervical arteries.