[Intraoperative complications in interventions on peripheral arterial vessels].

Between 1980 and 1989, 2395 reconstructive operations were performed for peripheral arterial occlusive disease on vessels above the aortic arch and below diaphragm. 543 (22.6%) procedures of these represented operations upon the supraaortic branches, 756 (13.5%) were operations upon the abdominal aorta and pelvic vessels, 647 (27.0%) were performed on the upper and lower extremity and 449 (18.7%) miscellaneous like e.g. arterial embolectomies, venous embolectomies and others. Intraoperative complications occurred in 2.8% where as there was a 3-fold postoperative complication rate (9.1%). Diffuse bleeding contributed the highest rate of complications followed by injuries different organs. In most cases injuries to the spleen resulted from undue retraction. Other complications were iatrogenic lesions of the ureter, neural injuries and intraoperative bypass-occlusions.