Abstract
In view of clinical observations suggesting the possibility of ipsolateral arterial and arteriolar vasoconstriction in femoro-iliac thrombophlebitis, 1 the present investigations were undertaken to study some of the factors which may be concerned with such a phenomenon.
The influence of local chemical femoral thrombophlebitis upon the volume of pulsations was studied in the hind feet of 12 dogs. The volume of pulsations was determined plethysmographically and recorded continuously by Turner's 2 method, sensitive to volume changes of 0.1 cu mm. By means of a specially constructed cellulose-acetate plethysmographic cup the apparatus was adapted to the hind foot of the dog. Ether anesthesia was used on all dogs during the period of observation and aseptic precautions were observed in the operative procedures. In all observations comparable venous segments were isolated and ligated with silk. The perivascular tissues were not disturbed except for a distance of a few mm at the sites of the proximal and distal ligatures. This venous segment included the femoral vein from just proximal to the saphenous entrance below to Poupart's ligament above. Venous pressures were determined directly 3 in the saphenous vein at heart level before and after the venous ligations in most of the dogs. All observations were conducted under controlled atmospheric conditions, temperature 75° and humidity 50%.
The studies were divided into 5 groups of experiments as follows: (1) in 6 dogs (Nos. 1 to 6 inclusive) the venous segment in the left leg was exposed and ligated. Five minutes later 1 cc of blood was aspirated from the ligated segment and replaced by an equal quantity of 40% aqueous solution of sodium salicylate. Following another 5 minute interval the perivascular tissues of the entire venous segment were carefully infiltrated with 5 to 7 cc (depending upon the size of the dog) of 1% procaine hydrochloride.
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