Dynamics of blood flow in thromboangiitis obliterans

The resting blood flow in the horizontal position in the foot-leg of seven subjects with moderately advanced thromboangiitis obliterans was found to be within normal limits, as measured by the plethysmographic method.The release of arterial occlusion in the thigh resulted in no significant increase in blood flow. No initial increase in limb volume and no significant cardiac acceleration followed the release of arterial occlusion in these subjects.Heat or lumbar sympathetic ganglionectomy, alone or in conjunction with arterial occlusion, was no more effective in increasing the volume of blood flow than was simple arterial occlusion.After the release of arterial occlusion, an initial decrease in blood flow was manifest. This was not prevented by local heat or by sympathetic ganglionectomy.