Arterial occlusion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arterial occlusion is a condition involving partial or complete blockage of blood flow through an artery. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to body tissues.[1][2] An occlusion of arteries disrupts oxygen and blood supply to tissues, leading to ischemia.[1] Depending on the extent of ischemia, symptoms of arterial occlusion range from simple soreness and pain that can be relieved with rest,[3] to a lack of sensation or paralysis that could require amputation.[3]
Arterial occlusion can be classified into three types based on etiology: embolism, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. These three types of occlusion underlie various common conditions, including coronary artery disease,[4] peripheral artery disease,[5] and pulmonary embolism,[6] which may be prevented by lowering risk factors. Without proper prevention or management, these diseases can progress into life-threatening complications of myocardial infarction,[7] gangrene,[8] ischemic stroke,[9] and in severe cases, terminate in brain death or cardiac arrest.[10][11]
Arterial occlusion is diagnosed by exercise testing,[3] ultrasonic duplex testing,[3] and multi-detector coronary tomography angiography.[12] Meanwhile, treatment can vary from surgical interventions such as bypass,[13] endarterectomy,[14] and embolectomy,[15] to blood-thinning medication.[16]