Leg swelling after arterial revascularization is common. If the swelling occurs after restoration of arterial flow, it is called reperfusion edema. But there are other causes to consider. This is NOT an article about reperfusion pulmonary edema. Reperfusion Edema As I wrote, leg swelling after restoring arterial flow in the lower extremity is common. It…
Look at the picture. Do you see the spots on the toes? What do you think they mean? Black spots on toes (or brown, or purple spots on toes) don’t always mean the same thing… Each cause has a different treatment. 7 Causes for Black Spots on Toes When doctors see black spots on toes,…
It is not common to find a penetrating aortic ulcer. It is usually an incidental finding on imaging. For the most part, data are limited. That is why I hope to expand on this article as time goes on. In the meantime it is a placeholder to keep practical information about penetrating aortic ulcers (PAU)….
A carotid bruit is a sound heard over the neck. It may mean there is narrowing of the carotid arteries. But it can also mean other things. What is a carotid bruit? A bruit is a noise that can be heard when a doctor examines you with a stethoscope. It sounds like a hiss. A…
Are you suffering from foot pain at night? Some causes can be dangerous. If you have one of these, you might need emergency medical care. Other causes are less urgent. Let’s get into the details. Foot Pain at Night Causes Foot pain has many potential causes. It can be anything from a minor orthopedic issue…
Drug coated balloons changed the landscape of peripheral artery interventions. As a result of efficacy, the use of drug coated balloons (DCB) has risen considerably. But in 2018 a meta-analysis showed increased mortality in patients who had a DCB. Imagine the headlines. Patients came in with calf pain when walking, and ended up dying… The…
Calf pain when walking and calf pain after walking are common. Sometimes blocked arteries cause the calf pain. This is called peripheral artery disease. But there are many other potential causes. Knowing the cause is important figure out the right treatment. Calf Pain when Walking Causes There are many reasons for calf pain when walking…
Patients who have experienced a non-traumatic artery dissection have basically proven that their arteries are weak. Thus, there is a more than theoretical risk that another dissection can happen. It can occur either at the same location or at a new one. Of course, some locations might not be the same as others. Patients obviously…
Imagine the following clinical situation: A young patient presents with a stroke. Investigation into the cause reveals a carotid artery dissection. The patient is not known to be hypertensive. They are not found to have used any drugs (prescription or otherwise). No other family members have ever had anything even remotely similar. They want to…
Estimating procedural outcomes relies on both patient and procedural features. Many critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients will not achieve clinical improvement despite a successful intervention [ref]. The converse is also true: limb salvage rates may exceed arterial patency rates in certain patients [ref]. Thus, we need to take into account factors other than traditional medical…
