Successful use of continuous vasodilator infusion to treat critical vasospasm threatening a distal bypass

J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2018 Feb 27;4(1):58-62. doi: 10.1016/j.jvscit.2017.12.003. eCollection 2018 Mar.

Abstract

Vasospasm immediately after lower extremity arterial bypass may represent an uncommon cause of early graft failure. We report a successful case of catheter-directed, intra-arterial continuous vasodilator infusion to salvage a bypass graft threatened by severe, refractory vasospasm after incomplete response to nicardipine, verapamil, and nitroglycerin boluses. A continuous nitroglycerin infusion was administered for 24 hours, by which time the vasospasm resolved. At 12 months postoperatively, the graft remained patent with normal results of vascular laboratory studies. This report demonstrates that in cases of refractory vasospasm after peripheral bypass, continuous vasodilator infusion can be an effective treatment to prevent early graft failure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports