title: Carotid stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm at the follow-up examination in patients treated for acute extremity ischaemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate survivors treated for acute extremity ischaemia as a risk-group for carotid stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm at the follow-up examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical study with median follow-up of 14 (8-32) months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Central Hospital of Central Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen survivors with median age of 77 (51-92) years treated for acute extremity ischaemia during two-year period intended to a separate follow-up examination median 14 (8-32) months after the acute episode of vascular occlusion. Ischaemia was considered as acute in 14 patients and acute on chronic in four patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thromboembolectomy was the primary intervention excluding two patients with distal upper limb ischaemia who were treated by intravenous heparin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical examination, duplex scanning of carotid bifurcation and sonography of abdominal aorta were performed at the follow-up examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant asymptomatic carotid stenosis >60% was found in four patients (22%), two of these patients had significant bilateral carotid stenosis. One patient (60%) had abdominal aortic aneurysm of 5.2 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In survivors treated for acute extremity ischaemia asymptomatic carotid stenosis >60% was found with significantly increased prevalence compared with general population and with equal prevalence when compared with patients with peripheral vascular disease. Occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm was parallel with findings in screening surveys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tampere University Hospital, Finland. pekkuu.@saunalahti.fi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuukasjärvi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaira
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riekkinen
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Salenius
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D017128:Embolectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex