Objective To investigate the comparative roles of the pathologic changes of gastrocnemius on the pathologic process of varicosis of the lower extremity(VLE). Methods By means of electron microscopy and light microscopy, image analysis and the capillary basement membrane and gastrocnemius muscle cell in 30 patients with VLE and 10 contrast subjects were studied. Results (1) Light microscopically, smearing of cross-striation, sarcolemmal proliferation, fibrinoid degeneration, fatty degeneration, and haemorrhage were seen in muscle of patients with VLE. (2) Electron microscopically, increase in thickness of the capillary basement membrane, increase in lipid droplets and glycogen, swelling of mitochondra, myelin figure, lipofusin, disruption of the myofibrils, and myopathic changes were seen in muscle cells of patients with VLE. The area and thickness of the capillary basement membrane in patients with varicosis were higher than those in the control subjects ( P 0.05). Conclusions (1) It is suggested that the ultrastructure changes of gastrocnemius muscles result from ischemia and hgpoxia. Among the changes, the capillary basement membrane plays an important role in the induce insuficiency of the calf muscle pump function which result in VLE extremities. (2) It is suggested that degeneration of gastrocnemius muscle cell may relate to the insufficiency of calf muscle pump function. (3) In early pathologic process, insufficiency of the calf muscle pump function can be compensate by muscle cells hypertrophy. The transverse areas of muscle cells in early period were bigger than that in later period, so that the compensation was limited, chronic ischemia and hypoxia can affecte the calf muscle pump function.

Objective To investigate the effects of in situ venous arterialization on extensive artery obliterans occlusion of the lower extremity. Methods Lumbar sympathetic ganglionectomy and one stage in situ arterialization of the great saphemous vein were performed in 104 ischemic limbs of 88 patients with extensive arterial occlusion. Results Eighty-two of 104 limbs were followed-up from 6 months to over 6 years. The intermittent claudication, night pain improved in all cases, with satisfactory wound healing and no swelling of the lower limbs. Conclusions Arterial blood flow through venous conduit improves and reconstructs the blood circulation of the ischemic limbs.