Isolated limb perfusion
- The femoral vein and artery or axillary vein and artery are clamped
- The artery and vein are cannulated.
- A pump oxygenator is used to maintain oxygenation of the blood going through the limb.
- Heated cytotoxic mediation are infused - phenylalanine mustard and actinomycin D are commonly used - usually for 90 minutes
Isolated limb infusion
- The femoral artery and vein are accessed with a catheter and a torniquet is used.
- Blood is circulated at a much slower rate and only for 30 minutes
- During IRI, the limb becomes very hypoxic which leads to marked acidosis.