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Arterial Embolism/Thrombosis

Anila Khaliq, MD and Kliment Todosov, M.D. Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Acute loss of perfusion distal to occlusion of major arteries due to an embolus (air, fat, amniotic fluid) that migrates to point of occlusion or a thrombus (most common; intrinsic p...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • The 6 Ps:

    • Pain: diffuse distally; crescendo in nature; most common symptom in embolism; not alleviated by change of position

    • Pulselessness: pedal pulses subject to observer...

TREATMENT

  • Initial treatment: hemodynamic stabilization (volume resuscitation, maintenance of end-organ perfusion, correction of cardiac arrhythmias) and pain management

  • Immediate treatment: thrombolysi...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

After treatment, evaluate for other complications of atherosclerosis (carotid stenosis, aortic aneurysm, peripheral vascular disease, and coronary arterial diseas...

REFERENCES

1
Gerhard-Herman MD, Gornik HL, Barrett C, et al. 2016 AHA/ACC guideline on the management of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease: executive summary: a report of the Amer...

CODES

ICD10

  • I74.9 Embolism and thrombosis of unspecified artery

  • I74.3 Embolism and thrombosis of arteries of the lower extremities

  • I74.5 Embolism and thrombosis of iliac artery

  • I66.9 Occlusion and stenosi...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • 6 Ps (pain, pallor, paresthesia, poikilothermia, pulselessness, and paralysis) raise suspicion for arterial disease.

  • Arteriography helps confirm the diagnosis and extent of disease.

  • Earl...

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