Acute and chronic limb ischaemia

Chronic limb ischaemia presents over time. The most common cause of chronic ischaemia is peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Risk factors for the development of PAD may be modifiable or non-modifiable (age, gender, ethnicity and family history). Intermittent claudication, the most common presenting symptom, may have a relatively benign prognosis in many cases, whereas critical limb ischaemia (CLI) refers to disease progression with threatened limb loss, and requires intervention. In contrast, acute limb ischaemia occurs suddenly, commonly due to thrombosis, embolization or trauma (including iatrogenic causes), and may also be limb threatening, requiring urgent investigation and intervention in order to reduce risks of limb loss.