Pharmacologic Therapies in Peripheral Vascular Disease
Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has long been a major clinical problem, producing significant risks for limb loss and death. It is most commonly caused by arterial thrombosis in the setting of underlying atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease; arterial embolism, usually of cardiac origin; and traumatic injury. ALI increases in frequency with advancing age. As shown in a recent surgical series of predominantly lower extremity arterial occlusions, rates of amputation and death related to ALI approximate 7% and 10%, respectively. Generally, mortality is higher in patients with peripheral embolization than thrombosis, due to the presence of significant underlying cardiac disease.
Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has long been a major clinical problem, producing significant risks for limb loss and death. It is most commonly caused by arterial thrombosis in the setting of underlying atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease; arterial embolism, usually of cardiac origin; and traumatic injury. ALI increases in frequency with advancing age. As shown in a recent surgical series of predominantly lower extremity arterial occlusions, rates of amputation and death related to ALI approximate 7% and 10%, respectively. Generally, mortality is higher in patients with peripheral embolization than thrombosis, due to the presence of significant underlying cardiac disease.
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