Isolated Limb Perfusion: An Overview

Isolated limb perfusion is an uncommon practice sometimes employed by perfusionists on patients who suffer from localized malignant tumors. Most malignancies are found systemically and not peripherally, so the chemotherapeutic agent is systemically administered at lower concentrations to combat the malignant area. However, the malignancies that limb perfusion may be most beneficially used are found in the legs or the arms. Isolated limb perfusion enables the surgical team to infuse higher concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agents into the isolated limb without introducing these agents systemically. The perfusion of the chemo agent, blood flow and oxygenation of the blood is performed using a standard heart-lung machine.