[Lumbar sympathectomy in atherosclerosis obliterance of lower limb arteries and age of the patients].

In the elderly and old patients with atherosclerosis of lower limb arteries, ultrasonic dopplerography assisted study of hemodynamics in foot with use of Valsalva and corinfar tests was carried out. It is revealed that these patients retain high reaction to sympathetic influences. The obtained data were the base for use of lumbar sympathectomy in 419 patients over 65 years as an independent method of surgical treatment and in combination with reconstructive operations on major arteries. Good results were obtained in 70.1% operated patients, satisfactory results--in 22.7%. There were no significant differences in the results of lumbar sympathectomy between this age group and younger patients.