title: Peripheral vascular surgery.
abstract: Patients may present with a wide range of manifestations of arterial occlusive disease. The clinician must be able to assess the magnitude of the arterial flow diminution and thereby determine the appropriate treatment regimen. A careful history, physical examination, and pertinent noninvasive vascular laboratory tests should provide adequate information for the clinician to establish the severity of disease and the need to pursue a medical or surgical treatment plan. Patient evaluation must be carried out expeditiously, especially when limb-threatening conditions such as infection or gangrene exist, because these problems may progress rapidly and result in major lower extremity amputation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hutton
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures