Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,585 records · Page 88Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Peripheral neuropathy associated with ischemic vascular disease of the lower limbs.

This paper deals with the possible identification of somatic and autonomic nerve damage in patients with peripheral obliterative arterial disease (POAD) at different stages of the disease, with a well-reproducible technique like electroneurographic evaluation of nerve conduction. In 64 patients with intermittent claudication, 19 patients with pain at rest, and 7 patients with trophic ulcers, electroneurographic evaluation of motor (tibial and peroneal) and sensory (superficial peroneal and sural) nerve conduction was performed. The median nerve (motor and sensory) was used as control. A severe impairment of sural and superficial peroneal nerve velocities was evident in many claudicant patients and in all patients with pain at rest and trophic ulcers, with a progression in the conduction abnormalities in advanced stages of the disease. Motor nerve conduction showed only minor reductions in patients with claudication and pain at rest, although some of them did show very poor velocity values. In 21 patients with intermittent claudication and sensory nerve abnormalities, the autonomic fibers activity, evaluated by the skin sympathetic response (SSR) test, was significantly depressed, thus suggesting an involvement of the local autonomic system in the ischemic disease. A correlation exists between the severity of the somatic nerve damage and the stage of the vascular insufficiency. However, in the group of claudicant patients, the evidence of similar ischemic threshold (claudication distance) may be associated with a marked difference in the amount of somatic nerve damage. The somatic and autonomic nerve alterations may play a relevant role in the progression of the disease toward critical limb ischemia.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Failure of pentoxifylline or cilostazol to improve blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen, and erythrocyte deformability in claudication.

Peripheral artery disease is associated with altered blood rheologic properties, including increased viscosity and decreased red blood cell (RBC) deformability. Pentoxifylline and cilostazol are available therapies for intermittent claudication. Improvement of blood viscosity and erythrocyte deformability have been cited as potential mechanisms of action for pentoxifylline. Cilostazol is a new drug with antiplatelet and vasodilating activity, but the mechanism by which it promotes an improvement in walking is not known. This study was performed to evaluate and compare the hemorheologic effects of pentoxifylline and cilostazol on viscosity, fibrinogen levels, and erythrocyte deformability when administered to adults with moderate to severe claudication. A double-blind, controlled study was conducted and included 59 patients (46 male, 13 female; mean age 65 yr) randomized to pentoxifylline 400 mg orally thrice daily (n=20), cilostazol 100 mg orally twice daily (n=19), or placebo (n=20); all subjects were observed for 24 weeks. Walking ability was assessed before, during, and at the conclusion of treatment by standard constant speed, variable grade treadmill testing. Erythrocyte deformability was measured by passage of washed RBCs, 10% hematocrit in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), through a polycarbonate membrane with 4.7 to 5.0 microm pores. Whole blood and plasma viscosity were measured using a cone/plate viscometer at variable shear rates (from 4.5 to 450 sec(-1)). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was measured by a modified Westergren technique. Fibrinogen was assayed by a commercial reference laboratory. Plasma viscosities did not change significantly in any treatment group. Within-group comparisons demonstrated a significant (p<0.01) drop in whole blood viscosity (week 24 compared with week 0) for cilostazol-treated subjects (at shear rates of 45, 90, 225, and 450 sec(-1)), but these changes were not significantly different from those in the placebo group. There were no significant changes in whole blood viscosity for subjects treated with pentoxifylline or placebo. There were no significant changes in erythrocyte deformability, fibrinogen, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. A trend toward improved walking distances was noted for both pentoxifylline and cilostazol in comparison with placebo. This trend was not correlated with changes in any underlying rheologic parameter. Ex vivo rheologic characteristics of blood from patients with intermittent claudication are not significantly affected by long-term administration of pentoxifylline or cilostazol. Pentoxifylline did not modulate viscosity or red cell deformability, a finding at variance with its putative mechanism of action. Pentoxifylline cannot be differentiated from cilostazol based on specific hemorheologic effects evaluated in this study. Different mechanisms of action for these medications should be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[Epidemiology and clinical framework of the ischemic pathology of the lower limbs].

The atherosclerotic disease is a very important problem for the health in the advanced countries. The Rose's questionnaire was utilised for diagnosing the intermittent claudication but the current diagnostic method is the ankle-arm blood pressure ratio (Winsor's index). The incidence of intermittent claudication is 0.4% to 14.4%, utilising the Rose's questionnaire and 4.2% to 35% using the Winsor's index. The main risk factor for the peripheral arteriopathies is the smoke followed by the hypertension and the diabetic disease. The dyslipidemic and coagulative diseases are important risk factors in some populations. The main cause of death is the myocardial infarction. The risk increases when it is present a cerebral or coronary arterial pathologies.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Adventitial cystic disease.

Adventitial cystic disease (ACD) is an unusual cystic tumor of blood vessels characterized by the accumulation of mucinous substance in the adventitia of the non-axial blood vessels adjacent to joints. Patients with ACD often suffer from intermittent claudication and/or limb pain, mostly involving the popliteal artery. We report a 30-year-old male who presented with intermittent claudication in his left leg. Angiography showed an obstructive lesion in the left popliteal artery. The lesion was treated successfully by surgical excision followed by graft vessel replacement. ACD involving the popliteal artery was diagnosed by pathologic findings of multiple cysts of the adventitia with external compression and focal narrowing of the vascular lumen. The cysts contained acid mucin and were partially lined by multiple rows of cytologically bland, synovium-like cells with positive immunoreactivity to vimentin and CD68 but negative immunoreactivity to cytokeratin. The histopathologic findings in this case suggest that it was caused by the developmental rests of mucin-secreting mesenchymal cells derived from the knee joint.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Increasing exercise tolerance of persons limited by claudication pain using polestriding.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of polestriding exercise (walking with modified ski poles with a movement pattern similar to cross-country skiing) to increase exercise tolerance of persons with intermittent claudication pain caused by peripheral arterial disease was tested in this 24-week prospective randomized clinical trial. METHODS: The study was conducted in a Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital with 52 individuals who gave written informed consent and were randomized into either a polestriding exercise (n = 27; age, 65.5 +/- 7.0 years; ankle brachial index, 0.64 +/- 0.25) or nonexercise control (n = 25; age, 68.6 +/- 8.9 years; ankle brachial index, 0.69 +/- 0.14) group (P >.05 for all comparisons). The polestriding exercise program consisted of supervised training three times per week for 4 weeks, two times per week for 8 weeks, one time per week for 4 weeks, biweekly for 4 weeks and unsupervised training for 4 weeks. Starting in week 5, subjects took their poles home with instructions to repeat the most recent supervised training walk at an appropriate and convenient location near their residence. This was referred to as unsupervised but directed exercise. Subjects were provided with a personal log book for documenting unsupervised exercise sessions. With both supervised and unsupervised exercise, subjects were expected to complete a total of four 30-minute to 45-minute polestriding exercise sessions per week. The main outcome measures were exercise duration on symptom-limited incremental treadmill test, Walking Impairment Questionnaire, rating of perceived leg pain at baseline, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 weeks, and constant work-rate treadmill exercise tests at baseline and at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. RESULTS: Polestriding significantly (P <.001) improved exercise tolerance on the constant work-rate and incremental treadmill tests. Ratings of perceived claudication pain were significantly less after the polestriding training program. Subject perceived distance and walking speed scores on the Walking Impairment Questionnaire improved in the polestriding trained group only (P <.001 and.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: This randomized clinical trial provides empirical evidence that 24 weeks of polestriding training significantly improves quantitative and qualitative measures of the exercise tolerance of persons limited by intermittent claudication pain.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The role of low-density lipoprotein apheresis as postoperative care of bypass grafting for chronic arterial occlusion.

Since November 1989, low-density lipoprotein apheresis has been applied to patients with intractable hyperlipidaemia following bypass grafting for chronic arterial occlusion of the lower extremities. The treatment group comprised six patients (four men, two women) with arteriosclerosis obliterans. In five patients, the ankle pressure index deteriorated and intermittent claudication recurred due to atherosclerotic progression. Results of low-density lipoprotein apheresis were dramatic; the deteriorated ankle pressure index and intermittent claudication improved significantly after several applications of low-density lipoprotein apheresis. Significant angiographic improvement was obtained in two patients. It is concluded that low-density lipoprotein apheresis appears to be an efficient method to preserve graft patency and treat postoperative patients with deteriorated ankle pressure index.

Angiography↗
PubMed1998

[Cardiovascular morbidity/mortality modified by the use of FGE1 alpha-cyclodextran and calcium heparin in patients with severe vascular diseases].

BACKGROUND: Morbidity and mortality were evaluated in three groups of vascular patients: one group was treated with PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina according to the short term protocol; the second group was treated with PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina and subcutaneous calcium heparin (SCH; 0.5 ml once daily, in the evening) while a third group was a historical reference group. METHODS: All included patients had a follow up of at least 12 months. The historical reference group had been managed without PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina or SCH while in the two PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina groups included patients who had been treated with at least four PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina short-term treatment cycles per year. The 3 groups were comparable for sex and age distribution. In the PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina group 142 patients (64 +/- 17; M:F = 84:58) had been treated (47 for intermittent claudication and 95 for critical ischemia). The historical reference group included 157 patients (65 +/- 18: M:F = 91:66); 53 with intermittent claudication and 104 with critical ischemia). The group treated with PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina and SCH included 74 patients (27 with claudication and 47 with critical ischemia). RESULTS: In claudicants yearly cardiovascular morbidity was reduced from 15.5% in the reference group to 10.2% in patients treated with PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina and to 7.9% in those treated with PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina and SCH. Mortality decreased from 11.3% in the reference group to 6% in the PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina group and to 5.1% in the PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina + SCH group. In patients with critical limb ischemia morbidity decreased from 28.6% in the reference group to 23.2% in PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina-group and to 19.4% in the PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina + SCH group. Mortality also decreased from 16% (reference group) to 13% in the PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrinagroup, to 10.3% in the PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina + SCH group. CONCLUSION: Cyclic treatment with PGE1 alpha-ciclodestrina produces an important decrease in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which could be further reduced by the chronic use of subcutaneous calcium heparin.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Local signs and symptoms in relation to final amputation level in diabetic patients. A prospective study of 187 patients with foot ulcers.

Local signs and symptoms were evaluated in 187 consecutively presenting diabetic patients undergoing amputation for foot ulcers. From admission until final outcome the patients were treated by the same multidisciplinary team both as in- and out-patients. At the time of amputation, the types of lesions were superficial/deep ulcer (n 17), ulcer with deep infection, but without gangrene (n 40), and gangrene with or without infection (n 130). Healing after a minor amputation (below the ankle) occurred in 74 patients, while 88 patients healed after a major amputation (above the ankle), and 25 patients died before healing had occurred. Deep infection and presence of popliteal or pedal pulses were associated with healing after minor amputation and so were ulcers on the small toes, metatarsal head area and midfoot. Pain, progressive gangrene, intermittent claudication, and decubital and multiple ulcers were related to healing after major amputation. In a logistic regression analysis, pain, progressive gangrene and intermittent claudication remained. However, none of these factors excluded healing of a minor amputation and thus selection of amputation level in diabetic patients with foot ulcers cannot be based upon these factors exclusively.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

National study of obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs involving general practitioners in France: Artemio study.

A national survey was performed in France from May to June, 1993. The aim of this study was to evaluate general practitioners' attitudes and behaviors when diagnosing and managing patients with lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). One thousand general practitioners, randomly drawn from an exhaustive list, were contacted to participate in a telephone interview concerning the last patient with intermittent claudication seen in their practice. Four hundred seventy-six general practitioners participated. Risk factors noted for these 476 patients with intermittent claudication were in agreement with the literature: 86% were men aged 64 +/- 10 years (mean +/- SD) and 14% were women aged 73 +/- 8 years. Sixty-two percent had a pain-free walking distance of between 100 and 500 meters at diagnosis. Forty-five percent were former smokers and 37% currently smoked; 55% had hypertension, 14% diabetes, and 56% disturbances of lipid metabolism. A majority of them were hypercholesterolemic. The diagnosis of the disease was based primarily on a clinical assessment, confirmed for 33% by Doppler or echo Doppler. The mean duration of diagnosis was 4.4 +/- 4.1 years. Management of the disease was mainly by prescription of vasodilators (91%), antiplatelet agents (59%), and anticoagulants (8%). Use of Doppler or echo Doppler was recommended once a year. Infection was observed in 27% of patients. Thirty-eight percent had had a cardiac incident (angina pectoris or myocardial infarction) and 10% a cerebrovascular accident. They differed significantly from those with LEAD alone for the following parameters: age (68.5 +/- 9.2 vs. 63.2 +/- 10.3 years; p < 0.001); duration of LEAD (5.6 +/- 4.6 vs. 3.6 +/- 3.5 years; p < 0.001); hypertension (65% vs. 50%; p < 0.01); and current smoking (29% vs. 43%; p < 0.01). This survey confirmed the feasibility of telephone interviewing, on a large sample of general practitioners in France. The high level of association with other cardiac incidents was, for these patients, a much higher risk of mortality and morbidity than LEAD alone. It would be interesting to validate the associations observed with a prospective study of comorbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Simultaneous measurement of digital artery and skin perfusion pressure by the laser Doppler technique in healthy controls and patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess feasibility of a new technique for simultaneous measurement of digital artery and skin perfusion pressure at the same digit using the laser Doppler method and to measure the pressure gradient between the two vessel compartments in controls and patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. DESIGN: A pressure cuff wrapped around the basis of the toe and connected to a Statham transducer is covered by a special plastic capsule. A hole at the distal end of the capsule permits positioning of a laser Doppler probe at the pulp. A second laser Doppler probe is placed on the skin beneath the pressure cuff. Reappearance of pulsatile flux during cuff pressure release detected by the two laser Doppler probes indicated digital artery pressure and skin perfusion pressure on the corresponding pressure curve. Results in patients with intermittent claudication were compared to results of a group of normal controls. SETTING: University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland. MATERIALS: Eleven healthy volunteers and 14 patients with intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial occlusive disease were studied. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Digital artery pressure (DAP), skin perfusion pressure (SPP) and pressure gradient between DAP and SPP. MAIN RESULTS: Significantly lower mean DAP (95.8 +/- 23.2 mmHg vs. 49.8 +/- 20.4 mmHg; p < 0.01) and mean SPP (81.4 +/- 18.8 mmHg vs. 38.4 +/- 21.7 mmHg; p < 0.01) were observed in the patients. Mean pressure gradients and ratios between DAP and SPP did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was a linear correlation between DAP and SPP (r = 0.82, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The laser Doppler method provides the possibility to measure digital artery and skin perfusion pressure simultaneously at the same digit in an easy and non-invasive way. Pressure gradients between DAP and SPP are similar in controls and patients with claudication.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Sex differences in claudication pain in subjects with peripheral arterial disease.

PURPOSES: To compare the claudication distances between men and women patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and to determine whether sex differences in claudication pain persisted after controlling for potential confounders such as demographic, functional, and physiological measures. METHODS: A total of 488 men and 72 women functionally limited by intermittent claudication were evaluated. Patients were characterized on PAD-specific measures consisting of ankle/brachial index (ABI) and treadmill claudication distances, physical function measures consisting of ambulatory function, monitored physical activity, balance, and strength, and demographic measures obtained during a medical history. RESULTS: Initial claudication distance (ICD) was 33% shorter ( = 0.024) in women than in men (126 +/- 22 vs 189 +/- 13 m; mean +/- SEM), and absolute claudication distance (ACD) was 23% shorter ( = 0.022) in women (313 +/- 43 vs 407 +/- 18 m). These differences were present despite similar ( = 0.440) ABI values between women (0.63 +/- 0.02) and men (0.62 +/- 0.01). Peak oxygen uptake ( = 0.043) and self-perceived stair climbing ability ( = 0.020) were different between men and women, and were independently related to ICD (multiple R = 0.57, < 0.001) and to ACD (multiple R = 0.71, < 0.001). The sex differences in ICD ( = 0.524) and ACD ( = 0.722) were no longer present after controlling for peak oxygen uptake and self-perceived stair climbing ability. CONCLUSION: Shorter treadmill claudication distances in women with PAD were explained by their lower cardiopulmonary fitness and poorer self-perceived ability to climb stairs than compared with men. Therefore, women with intermittent claudication represent a subgroup of PAD patients who should receive high priority for exercise rehabilitation to improve physical function.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1989

Nifedipine in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

The calcium antagonist nifedipine has been studied in a group of patients with intermittent claudication. In a long-term double blind, placebo controlled trial in 27 patients there was no effect on exercise tolerance as measured by pedal ergometry and only a limited improvement in symptom score on double dose nifedipine. Common femoral artery volumetric blood flow (measured by duplex ultrasound) was unaffected. The acute effects on blood flow were also studied, with a mean increase of 23% in common femoral artery blood flow 30 min after sublingual nifedipine. The administration of nifedipine to patients with peripheral vascular disease will not adversely affect claudication symptoms, and may result in an acute improvement in lower limb blood flow. Nifedipine is a suitable antihypertensive in patients who suffer from intermittent claudication.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMed1992

Reperfusion injury in skeletal muscle: a prospective study in patients with acute limb ischaemia and claudicants treated by revascularization.

A study was carried out to document the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis and renal complications in patients undergoing vascular reconstruction. Indices of muscle damage and renal function were monitored before, during and for up to 10 days after vascular reconstruction for a variety of conditions ranging from intermittent claudication to acute ischaemia. Seven patients with acute limb ischaemia (group 1) and nine with intermittent claudication (group 2) were studied prospectively. In group 1, median creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin levels were markedly raised 24-48 h after surgery (CK, 29,370 units/l; myoglobin, 8.17 mg/l). Myoglobin reached its peak concentration and declined more quickly than CK, but both indices gave similar information about the extent of muscle damage. In contrast, patients undergoing elective surgery for claudication showed no significant departure from reference values for myoglobin or CK. All patients in group 1 underwent fasciotomy to relieve raised compartmental pressures and five were treated with alkali and mannitol to produce diuresis. Despite these measures, two patients suffered renal failure (peak creatinine levels 611 and 590 mumol/l) after successful revascularization and subsequently required haemodialysis; these patients did not have diuresis. One of these patients died following a stroke 8 days after surgery; the other survived and was discharged with a normal limb and restored renal function. There was no evidence of muscle damage or renal complications in group 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2006

Treating claudication in 5 words (stop smoking and keep walking) is no longer enough: an audit of risk factor management in patients prescribed exercise therapy in New Zealand.

AIM: To assess the documentation and modification of vascular risk factors in patients with intermittent claudication enrolled in an exercise programme in Christchurch, New Zealand. PATIENTS/METHOD: A retrospective review of case notes of patients who presented to the vascular outpatient department with intermittent claudication and were given "Green Prescriptions" for an exercise programme was performed. Referral letters, clinic letters, vascular nurse notes, and handwritten hospital notes were searched for evidence of documentation of risk factors for atherosclerosis. Modification of these risk factors was also noted. Positive attempts at risk factor modification included starting or asking the GP to start a medication or asking the GP to assist with smoking cessation. RESULTS: Sixty patient notes were reviewed which included 81 referral letters (66 from GPs), 118 surgeon letters/clinic notes, and 43 vascular nurse assessments. Of the 60 patients referred, risk factor documentation (positive or negative) was antiplatelet therapy (40), hypertension (48), hyperlipidaemia (39), current tobacco use (40), diabetes mellitus (37), and coronary artery disease (38). Vascular surgeons saw 58 patients and documentation was antiplatelet therapy (42), hypertension (46), hyperlipidaemia (45), current tobacco use (48), diabetes mellitus (44), and coronary artery disease (29). Attempted modification of risk factors by vascular surgeons occurred in 12 patients for antiplatelet therapy, 11 patients for lipid lowering therapy, and 10 for current smokers. Forty-three vascular nurse assessments resulted in documentation of antiplatelet therapy (0), hypertension (42), hyperlipidaemia (42), current tobacco use (43), diabetes mellitus (42), and coronary artery disease (6). CONCLUSION: There is suboptimal communication of vascular risk factors by referrers to specialist vascular services. The recording and modification of risk factors for atherosclerosis in our unit compares favourably with other reported series, but improvement is needed. Furthermore, the role of clinicians with an interest in risk factor management, and patients' understanding of their vascular risk factors, needs clarification.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of long-term exercise rehabilitation on claudication distances in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To determine if improvements in physical function and peripheral circulation after 6 months of exercise rehabilitation could be sustained over a subsequent 12-month maintenance exercise program in older patients with intermittent claudication. METHODS: Seventeen patients randomized to exercise rehabilitation and 14 patients randomized to usual care control completed this 18-month study. Patients exercised three times per week during the first 6 months of a progressive exercise program, followed by two times per week during the final 12 months of a maintenance program. Patients were studied at baseline, 6 months, and 18 months during the study. RESULTS: Eighteen months of exercise rehabilitation increased the initial claudication distance by 373 meters (189%) (P <.001), the absolute claudication distance by 358 meters (80%) (P <.001), walking economy by 11% (P <.001), 6-minute walk distance by 10% (P <.001), daily physical activity by 31%, and maximal calf blood flow by 18% (P <.001). These changes were similar to those found after 6 months of exercise rehabilitation (P = NS), and were significantly greater than the changes in the control group throughout the study (P <.05). CONCLUSION: Improvements in claudication distances, walking economy, 6-minute walk distance, physical activity level, and peripheral circulation after 6 months of exercise rehabilitation are sustained for an additional 12 months in older patients with intermittent claudication using a less frequent exercise maintenance program.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

[Methodology in angiologic-therapeutic-clinical research. Inter- and intra-individual comparison in arterial occlusive disease].

The objective metabolic evaluation of the insufficiency of the peripheral circulation in patients with arterial occlusive disease has proved to be very intricate. Previously blood specimen were taken more proximally from the femoral vein and not from the draining blood vessel of the exercised muscles. Consequently the analysed blood samples contained a higher degree of blood from non-ischemic muscle. This methodological problem could be overcome by introducing a catheter into the popliteal vein. This new technique permits to study the spontaneous and reactive metabolic changes in the legs during and after treadmill exercise in patients with intermittent claudication. Exercise- and post-exercise metabolism was studied in the legs of 18 individuals without arterial occlusive disease and in 76 patients with intermittent claudication. Change of lactate, pyruvate blood gases and acid-base balance was studied inter- and intraindividually in arterial and popliteal venous blood during and after an exhaustive constant load exercise on a treadmill. The metabolic effect during bicycle- and treadmill exercise was compared intraindividually. During exercise, the difference between the arterio-popliteal venous blood samples in lactate concentrations was significantly higher in patients than in controls. In general, patients had a significantly higher lactate-pyruvate ratio in the popliteal venous blood than in the arterial blood. During treadmill exercise the popliteal venous PO2 did not fall below 16.5 +/- 1.1 mmHg in the controls. Individual values during exercise varied from 6.4 mmHg to 18.1 mmHg in patients. The transition from supine at rest to upright position on the treadmill reduced the popliteal venous oxygen saturation from 49.4% to 26.3% in the patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗
PubMed1999

Surgical treatment of lumbar canal stenosis in the elderly.

The effectiveness of spinal surgery for lumbar canal stenosis was investigated in the elderly. 164 patients with lumbar canal stenosis were surgically treated over 8 years. 125 patients were followed up by letter questionnaire. The outcome and patient satisfaction with the surgical procedures were compared between the 73 younger patients (< or = 64 years of age) and the 52 elderly patients (> or = 65 years of age). Intermittent claudication was satisfactorily improved in both the younger and the elderly groups. Both simple laminectomy and laminectomy with fusion could equally improve the symptoms of intermittent claudication. Although statistically not significant, there was tendency that laminectomy plus fusion effectively improved the symptoms of back pain and leg pain in both groups. 75% of the younger patients and 67% of the elderly were pleased with the outcome. The present study shows that elderly patients with lumbar canal stenosis should be actively considered for surgical treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Reduction of requirement for leg vascular surgery during long-term treatment of claudicant patients with ticlopidine: results from the Swedish Ticlopidine Multicentre Study (STIMS).

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of long-term treatment of the platelet inhibitor ticlopidine as secondary prevention against the need of vascular surgery in patients with intermittent claudication. DESIGN: The Swedish Ticlopidine Multicentre Study (STIMS), was conducted in six medical and surgical clinics of university hospitals in Sweden. METHODS: 687 claudicants were randomised to ticlopidine 250 mg bd or placebo and vascular surgery events were recorded prospectively over a 7-year period. Cox proportional hazards models of risk for leg vascular surgery were constructed using drug treatment and 11 putative risk factors for vascular disease as covariates. Surgical event-free survivals were compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The overall rate of first operations was 2.4% per annum. More than half of these operations were in the aortoiliac region. One-quarter of patients operated during the period required further operations but amputation was rare. Ticlopidine treatment reduced the need for vascular reconstructive surgery by about half, both in intention-to-treat and on-treatment analyses (unadjusted relative risks 0.486, 95% CI 0.317-0.745; p < 0.001; 0.493, 95% CI 0.290-0.841: p < 0.01, respectively). In Cox model analysis only male sex was confirmed as a risk factor for surgery. Previous peripheral arterial surgery was the strongest predictor of the need for surgery. None of the risk factors examined interacted statistically with the effect of treatment with ticlopidine. CONCLUSION: In patients with intermittent claudication it seems possible to prevent the need for future vascular surgery by the use of platelet inhibition with ticlopidine.

Female↗