Surgery versus thrombolytic therapy in the management of peripheral arterial occlusions

Thrombolytic therapy has been used as an alternative to surgery in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusion. Only recently has data from controlled clinical trials become available to allow comparison of the results of both treatment modalities. This article reviews surgical results in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusions, the history of and techniques for thrombolysis In peripheral arterial occlusion, and the results of studies comparing the two treatments.