Sudden narrowing leads to more severe consequences, given the lack of time for collateral vessels to grow. As such, coldness, numbness or even paralysis of the affected body parts may result.The commonest symptom of arterial occlusion is intermittent claudication, which consists of a painful, aching sensation in the affected muscle. This is often provoked with physical activity and relieved with rest. Pain and muscle aching may build up with walking, and accelerate with light jogging or walking uphill. Often, pain is relieved after several minutes of rest. However, affected individuals are limited to short spurts of activity, impairing their quality of life. For severe symptoms, the signs are usually visible and lead to ischemia. The clinical presentation of ischemia consists of the 6 Ps, including pallor, pain, paresthesia, paralysis, pulselessness, and poikilothermia. Affected individuals initially notice a paleness of the affected region and feel severe pain. As the condition worsens, the region appears bluish and numb. In extreme cases, this will give way to paralysis and poikilothermia, possibly requiring amputation of the affected limb. Types of arterial occlusion
Commonly observed types of arterial occlusion include thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and embolism. Embolism
An embolism involves the occlusion of blood vessels by an embolus. Arterial occlusion by an embolus is termed arterial embolism. An embolus is an agent that blocks blood flow by physically obstructing blood vessels. This includes gas bubbles, fatty deposits, amniotic fluid, blood clots, and foreign material. Arterial emboli occasionally detach from primary sites and travel via circulation to occlude secondary arteries, causing multiple ischemic sites.
This procedure involves bypassing the blocked portion of the artery by replacing it with a healthy vessel from elsewhere in the body. The surgeon attaches one end of the new vessel right before the blockage, and the other end in the area after the affected portion. This reestablishes proper blood flow toward the desired area. Endarterectomy
An endarterectomy is an intervention aiming to remove accumulated plaques directly from the affected artery. This involves an incision on the side of the neck of the affected artery. The plaque is then exposed and removed accordingly, with the artery then stitched back together. With the plaque removed, blood can travel through the artery unimpeded. Embolectomy
An embolectomy is a procedure conducted when a blockage moves from its original site to another place in the body, thus forming an embolus. There are two methods of performing embolectomy. The first method is catheter embolectomy, which involves the insertion of a catheter into the affected artery and the subsequent removal of the embolus. This option is minimally invasive, and thus lowers risk and recovery time. The other option is a traditional surgical option, where the surgeon will expose the affected region, open the blood vessel and remove the embolus. Blood-thinning Medication
Blood-thinning medications are beneficial short-term options in managing arterial occlusion. Anticoagulants such as warfarin and antiplatelets such as aspirin and clopidogrel reduce the risk of thrombosis by making blood flow easily through arteries. Side effects include increased bleeding and heavier bruising. == References ==