Understanding the pathophysiology and management of extremity causalgia, a complex regional pain syndrome (CPRS), is relevant to the practice of vascular surgery. Patient referrals for extremity complaints (pain, cyanosis, skin temperature changes, edema) can mimic arterial and venous disease, but…
Vasospasm of the upper extremities is most commonly caused by Raynaud’s syndrome, but it can also result from medications such as ergot compounds, acrocyanosis, livedo reticularis, or intraarterial injections. Raynaud’s Syndrome Raynaud’s syndrome is the most common vasospastic disorder seen…
Symptomatic arterial disease of the upper extremity is uncommon, accounting for approximately 5% of all cases of extremity ischemia. Ischemia in the upper extremity is caused by a wide variety of diseases, many of which are both nonatherosclerotic and systemic…
Upper extremity arterial disease is relatively uncommon. Unlike lower extremity disease, where the cause is predominantly atherosclerotic and the patients older, upper extremity arterial pathology is far more diverse and often affects younger persons ( Box 1 ). Treatment modalities…
In 1908, Takayasu, a Japanese ophthalmologist, reported retinal arteriovenous shunts in a wreathlike distribution around the optic disc and microaneurysms of the retinal vessels in a 19-year-old Japanese woman. In an ensuing discussion, Onishi related similar findings in a patient…
With the expanded application of the radiation therapy of malignancies has come the increased recognition of radiation-induced arteritis. Because ensuing vascular complications often develop insidiously, presenting as chronic ischemic syndromes, the role of earlier radiation is often overlooked. Radiation-associated arteriopathy…
Carotid body tumors are the most common form of paraganglioma in the head and neck. These tumors are difficult to resect because of impressive vascularity, arterial adherence, and local cranial nerve involvement. Stroke and cranial nerve dysfunction remain sobering risks…
Extracranial carotid artery aneurysms represent an important but uncommon disease. Certain of these aneurysms are associated with thromboembolic complications causing stroke. Rupture of an aneurysm, especially in the case of a false aneurysm following carotid artery endarterectomy, represents a surgical…
The arterial blood supply to the upper extremities and brain is based on the supra-aortic trunk vessels, which include the innominate, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries. The innominate artery is unique in that it is solely responsible for…
In the past, subclavian revascularization was most often performed to relieve either vertebrobasilar symptoms or exertional arm pain associated with subclavian steal syndrome. Currently, subclavian revascularization is increasingly undertaken to extend the proximal landing zone during endovascular management of thoracic…