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Thromboangiitis Obliterans (Buerger Disease)

Franklyn C. Babb, FAAFP, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A cause of critical limb ischemia

  • Nonatherosclerotic vasculitis of small- and medium-sized arteries and veins resulting in segmental occlusion of the distal extremity vasculature; cau...

DIAGNOSIS

Common Diagnostic Features (1
  • Presence of:

    • Age <30-50

    • Tobacco use (current or recent)

    • Claudication, rest pain, or digital ulceration

    • Migrating superficial thrombosis

    • Distal arteria...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Tobacco cessation (mandatory)

  • Eliminate other vasoconstrictive triggers (cold/drugs).

  • Eliminate exposure to chemical damage (e.g., iodine, carbolic acid, salicylic acid).

  • Avoid ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Use a bed cradle (nonheated) to prevent pressure from bed linens. 

Patient Monitoring

Ensure tobacco cessation and monitor for recurrence. 

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Avoid pr...

REFERENCES

1
Olin JW, Shih A. Thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease). Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006;18(1):18-24. PMID: 16344615. doi: 10.1097/01.bor.0000198000.58073.aa.
2
Narv...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Abeles  AM, Nicolescu  M, Pinchover  Z, et al. Thromboangiitis obliterans successfully treated with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Vascular.  2...

CODES

ICD10

I73.1 Thromboangiitis obliterans [Buerger’s disease] 

SNOMED

  • 52403007 Thromboangiitis obliterans (disorder)

  • 230601003 Neuropathy in thromboangiitis obliterans (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • TAO is preventable.

  • Tobacco cessation is mandatory in patients with TAO. Urinary nicotine and cotinine levels are helpful to assess ongoing tobacco use if the disease is still active de...

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