[Rehabilitation of patients after reconstructive surgery of lower limb arteries in the environment of a health resort hospital]. / Rehabilitacja chorych po operacjach rekonstrukcyjnych tetnic konczyn dolnych w warunkach szpitala uzdrowiskowego w Ustroniu.

The study comprises results concerning 89 patients (77 men and 12 women) who, after reconstructive operations on lower limb arteries (bypass, profundoplasty) because of atherosclerotic ischaemia, were treated in a sanatorium. The average period after operation was 39 weeks. When both lower limbs had been operated on, the limb considered by the patient as the weaker one was assessed. 26 limb (29.2%) showed pulse in the feet, 14 limbs (15.7%) showed pulse in the popliteal and femoral artery, while 49 limbs (55%) showed pulse in the groin only. The rehabilitation cycle lasted 24 days and comprised gymnastics (exercises in movement) and physiotherapy. The blood flow was assessed by such objective measurement methods as march test on moving track and the ABI measurement, also through the subjective assessment by the patient. The data underwent statistical processing. The limping distance on the moving track was prolonged in 73 patients (82%), the ABI increased in 67 patients (67.4%), while 72 patients assessed their blood flow as improved (80.8%).