Local intravenous therapy in chronic inflammatory and vascular disorders of the foot
El-Sarky M el-S
International Surgery 82(2): 175-181
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-8868 PMID: 9331848 Document Number: 475486
Chronic inflammatory and vascular disorders of the foot frequently present 2 problems: slow improvement, resulting in long-term therapy, and episodes of critical complications that may seriously threaten the foot. Particularly in a foot with compromised perfusion, the systemic administration of therapeutic agents may be insufficient. Retrograde venous perfusion, RVP, is a new approach that was recently employed for treatment of diabetic neuropathic pedal ulcers. In this paper, RVP was utilized in 24 patients with diabetic or non-diabetic foot disorders (infection, ulcers and critical pedal ischemia). Employed agents were infused according to predetermined regimens and included: antibiotics, deproteinized hemodialysate and PGE1. The target lesions were eliminated in 20 patients and improved in the others. The presented therapy proved to be a useful adjunct to conservative or surgical treatment in the studied disorders. Its main impact was in shortening the duration of therapy and overcoming critical complications threatening the foot.