[Cardiocirculatory side effects of hyperthermic extremity perfusion].

The risk of cardiocirculatory disorders was investigated in 23 consecutive patients with high-risk melanomas, who had been treated with hyperthermal limb perfusion. Postoperatively, there was a rise in the pulmonary vascular resistance. In addition, 14 patients with vascular occlusive diseases (1-2b, Fontaine) showed intraoperatively an increasing amount of leakage of the extracorporeal circulation. Elevations of thromboxane and prostacyclin in excess of the norm caused by mechanical and thermic traumatization of blood in the heart lung machine were detected in 8 patients investigated during and after the perfusion procedure. Significant increase of cisplatin, one of the two cytostatic agents injected extracorporeally, could not be demonstrated in the blood of the systemic circulation by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Increased pulmonary and arterial pressure disorders were observed in the group with occlusive vascular diseases, caused by a rising rate of vascular collaterals to the body and the rising rate of thromboxane and prostacyclin in the body blood flow. We believe that it is necessary to monitor pulmonary arterial pressure during isolated limb perfusion, especially in patients with vascular occlusive disease.