Info

Acute limb ischemia (ALI)-peripheral artery disease

(Circ 2016;135:e686)

  • Sudden decrement in limb perfusion
    • (ie, acutely cold & painful) that threatens viability
  • Etiologies: embolism > acute thrombosis (eg, athero, APS, HITT), trauma to artery
  • Clinical manifestations: (6 Ps)
    • pain (distal to proximal, ↑ in severity),
    • poikilothermia,
    • pallor,
    • pulselessness,
    • paresthesias,
    • paralysis
  • Diagnosis:
    • pulse & neuro exam;
    • arterial & venous Doppler;
    • angiography, CTA or MRA
  • Urgent consultation w/ vascular medicine and/or vascular surgery