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Thomas M. Maxwell, MD, FRCSC; Cornelius Olcott, IV, MD; F. William Blaisdell, MD

AMA Arch Surg. 1972;105(6):875-882.

Abstract
Eighteen patients developed vascular complications of drug abuse. Nine cases involved the upper extremities; seven, the lower extremities. Treatment consisted of heparin anticoagulation and the intra-arterial injection of vasodilator drugs. All the upper extremity cases recovered. Five of the seven lower extremity cases required surgical treatment; three required amputation. In the two other patients, systemic vascular complications developed. One of these consisted of aneurysms of the mesenteric and splenic arteries and the other, Candida endocarditis with peripheral embolism. The former responded to extensive medical treatment and the latter to aortic valve replacement.

Author Affiliations
San Francisco

From the Trauma Center and the University of California Surgical Service, San Francisco General Hospital.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 7, 1972.

Read before the 20th scientific meeting of the International Cardiovascular Society, Carmel, Calif, June 24, 1972.

Reprint requests to Martin Luther King, Jr. Los Angeles County General Hospital, 12021 S Wilmington Ave, Los Angeles 90059 (Dr. Maxwell).

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