ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION

Course overview

ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION IS SYNONYMOUS WITH ACUTE LIMB ISCHEMIA AND IS CONSIDERED A VASCULAR EMERGENCY. ACUTE LIMB ISCHEMIA IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF LIMB PERFUSION FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS AFTER AN INCITING EVENT. ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION CAN OCCUR IN ANY PERIPHERAL ARTERY OF THE UPPER AND LOWER EXTREMITIES. A PATIENT WITH ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION WILL GENERALLY PRESENT WITH PAIN IN THE INVOLVED MUSCLE GROUP WHICH AGGRAVATES ON EXERTION. THIS PHENOMENON IS ALSO TERMED INTERMITTENT CLAUDICATION WHEN A PATIENT FEELS PAIN IN THE INVOLVED LIMB ON WALKING. THE MOST TYPICAL AREA OF ARTERIAL OCCLUSION IS THE DISTAL SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL ARTERY, RESULTING IN CLAUDICATION IN THE CALF MUSCLE AREA. ACUTE OCCLUSION CAN LEAD TO A LIMB OR LIFE-THREATENING ISCHEMIA. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE ARTERIAL OCCLUSION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING AFFECTED PATIENTS.