Epidural electrostimulation of the spinal cord in obliterating diseases of the peripheral arteries

: Under study was the efficiency of epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord (ESSC) of 237 patients with obliterating diseases of the peripheral arteries. Reconstructive operations proved to be impossible in all the patients, and conservative treatment was not successful. The clinical status of 169 patients was determined as the 3rd stage, in 68 patients as the 4th stage after Fontain. The period of observation was 35.6 months at an average. High amputation was performed in 64 patients in spite of ESSC. In the other cases when the extremity could be kept safe, the intensity of pain was considerably relieved (more than 75%). We believe that ESSC can considerably relieve the intensity of the pain syndrome and improve the quality of life in patients with critical ischemia of the extremities when traditional methods of treatment are not possible.