Acid-base equilibrium, tissue oxygenation and hemodynamics in arteriosclerosis obliterans after sympathectomy

The authors have shown that operation of lumbar sympathectomy increases the skin oxygenation level, increases the volume blood flow in the main arteries and gives rise to positive shifts in metabolic processes in the extremity tissues. The operation is most effective at the 2nd stage of the disease but is getting less effective at the third stage. At the 4th stage of the disease the operation is indicated but with limited necroses of distal parts of the extremity, intact blood flow not less than 40% of the normal, the leg skin oxygenation level higher than 30 mm Hg, shift of blood pH to subcompensated acidosis.