Factors affecting limb salvage and mortality in patients undergoing femoral embolectomy.

The management and outcome of 131 acute femoral arterial occlusions in 126 patients over a period of 7 years is presented. The emboli were of cardiac origin in 82% of cases; 96% of the patients were treated with thromboembolectomy. The overall mortality rate was 26% with a limb salvage rate of 88% amongst the survivors. There was an increased risk of mortality in patients having both atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction, saddle emboli and those having delayed embolectomy after 24 h. Only the latter was found to be statistically significant. One-third of the patients who died had a failed embolectomy. An early fasciotomy helped in preventing permanent neurological deficit in patients with compartment syndrome.