title: Critical limb ischemia.
abstract: Critical limb ischemia refers to the clinical state of advanced arterial occlusive disease, placing an extremity at risk for gangrene and limb loss. Critical limb ischemia has 2 broad clinical subcategories that are vital to differentiate: acute limb ischemia and chronic arterial occlusive disease. This article reviews the etiologies, diagnosis, and treatment of critical limb ischemia.
authors.affiliation: Section of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. matthew.blecha@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blecha
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003161:Compartment Syndromes / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017131:Thrombectomy / Q000379:methods; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents
keywords: Acute limb ischemia; Arterial occlusive disease; Critical limb ischemia; Lower extremity angioplasty; Lower extremity revascularization; PAD