Evaluation of Chronic Lower-Extremity Ischemia

Abstract

THE most common symptomatic arteriosclerotic lesion of the peripheral arteries is occlusion of the superficial femoral artery. Occlusive disease of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries is encountered less frequently but is nevertheless a common cause of ischemic symptoms in the lower extremities; in my experience, it occurs in combination with occlusive disease of the femoropopliteal arterial tree slightly more than 50 per cent of the time. The symptom ordinarily produced by occlusion of the superficial femoral artery is intermittent claudication with aching or tiredness of the calf muscles after walking, which is promptly relieved by rest. Claudication caused by . . .