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Acute limb ischemia
What's new
Updated 2024 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and management of acute limb ischemia .
Background
Overview
Definition
Acute limb ischemia is defined as a sudden decrease in limb blood flow that can lead to potential tissue damage if not promptly treated.
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Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of acute limb ischemia primarily involves three main causes: embolism, thrombosis, and arterial dissection. Embolism and thrombosis can lead to blockage of blood flow, while arterial dissection can cause a tear in the artery wall, leading to compromised blood flow.
2
Epidemiology
The incidence of acute limb ischemia in the United Kingdom is estimated at 10 per 100,000 person-years.
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Disease course
Acute limb ischemia presents with a set of clinical manifestations often referred to as the "5 P's": Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, and Paralysis. These symptoms are a result of the sudden decrease in blood flow to the affected limb.
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Prognosis and risk of recurrence
The prognosis of acute limb ischemia is influenced by several factors. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial in preventing severe complications such as limb loss. The prognosis is also influenced by the underlying cause of ischemia and the patient's overall health status.
5
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of acute limb ischemia are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC 2024), the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society (VESS/SCAI/ABC/SVM/SVN/SVS/AHA/AACVPR/ACC/APMA/SIR 2024), the American College of Radiology (ACR 2023), the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS 2022), the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS 2020), ...
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