Ischemia Of The Lower Extremities - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Lower limb ischemia

Content:

• Causes of ischemia of the lower extremities
• The degree of ischemic disorder and their symptoms
• Diagnostics and treatment

Ischemia is a lack of blood flow to specific areas of the lower extremities. It is often called local anemia. In this case, tissues do not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutrients. This has a negative effect on the body: legs get tired quickly, muscle pains appear. In later stages, tissue necrosis is even possible. If the disease is neglected and gangrene develops, drug treatment will be ineffective. An operation is required, during which the limbs are amputated, otherwise the patient may die. The lowest parts of the legs are more susceptible to ischemia: the feet and lower leg. They should be given special attention to prevent the development of the disease.

Causes of ischemia of the lower extremities

• Atherosclerosis. It manifests itself in the form of plaque formation that clogs arterial vessels throughout the body. The course and severity of the disease depends on the lifestyle, heredity, the presence of bad habits. Atherosclerosis develops in older and elderly people. It does not necessarily lead to lower limb ischemia. Plaques can form in the blood vessels of the heart, which causes myocardial infarction, brain, and then the likelihood of a stroke is high. As a result of circulatory disorders in the intestinal region, an “abdominal toad” is formed. Problems that are promoted by atherosclerosis arise in areas where vascular occlusion is most pronounced.
• Diabetes. The danger of ischemia arises not only in insulin-dependent patients, but also in patients with type 2 disease. Your blood glucose does not have to be very high. Even a slight deviation from the norm can affect the vessels, contributing to the development of atherosclerosis, which in turn leads to ischemia.
• Arterial thrombosis. Blood clots form on the walls of the vessels, which increase over time and gradually lead to a complete blockage of the lumen. The reason for their appearance is a special type of atherosclerosis - obliterating. Under the influence of atherosclerotic plaques, the blood flow changes. As a result, platelets stick together and accumulate on the walls of blood vessels.

• Obliterating endarteritis. Unlike atherosclerosis, it is also typical for young people. The reasons for its appearance are bad habits, frostbite of the extremities, hypothermia, frequent intoxication of the body. Obliterating endarteritis progresses very quickly, affecting small vessels. In the later stages of the disease with tissue necrosis, the operation is already ineffective. Like atherosclerosis, obliterating endarteritis is one of the most common causes of lower limb ischemia. The ischemic stage is the mildest form of the disease.

The degree of ischemic disorder and their symptoms

In the process of development of ischemia of the lower extremities, several stages are distinguished:

1. At the first stage, occlusion, that is, blockage of blood vessels, is very weak. The patient experiences a tingling sensation, numbness in the legs. Creeping sensation often occurs. The skin on the legs is pale, sweating is increased.
2. The second stage of ischemia is characterized by functional circulatory failure. Symptoms of the disease occur while walking and the main one is intermittent claudication. Moving long distances requires frequent rest as the muscles tire quickly.
3. In the third stage, circulatory failure worries the patient not only while walking, but also at rest. The pain is mainly felt at night.
4. At the fourth stage of ischemia of the lower extremities, ulcers form on the fingers and feet. Such necrotic changes are a symptom signaling the need for immediate surgical intervention.

The use of painkillers for ischemia of the lower extremities is not only ineffective, but also dangerous. The disease develops rapidly, and then there is a threat of leg amputation. You can get rid of pain by bringing the limbs to an upright position. For example, at night, lower your feet to the floor from the bed. In this case, venous blood accumulates in the tissues, squeezing the arteries and reducing the arterial circulation. As a result, the formation of ulcers and tissue necrosis is even more active.

At the first symptoms of ischemia, you should consult a doctor. Patients who come to specialists in the later stages of the disease, in most cases, have to undergo surgery.

On the subject: 3 products that save ischemia

Diagnostics and treatment

To diagnose ischemia, the lower extremities are examined. The speed of onset of pain during movement is important, so the doctor will most likely ask the patient to actively bend and straighten his legs several times. When the tissues are compressed, the skin becomes pale. This allows you to determine the site of the lesion.

During the diagnosis, methods are also used:

• Electrothermometry,
• Capillarography and capillaroscopy,
• Arterial oscillography,
• X-ray contrast aortoarteriography

They provide the maximum amount of information about the nature of the course of the disease and its stage. Based on the information received, the doctor prescribes treatment.

In case of ischemia of the lower extremities, it is strongly recommended to quit smoking. The ingestion of nicotine into the body stimulates the formation of plaques in the vessels. General therapy involves performing specific physical exercises that must be prescribed by a doctor.

Exercise is effective only in the early stages of ischemia. The use of physical therapy and medication is aimed at improving blood circulation and blood flow to the lower extremities. Surgical intervention is required in the later stages of the development of the disease. It involves removing plaque from the arteries, dilating the lumen of blood vessels, prosthetics and bypass surgery.

Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist

Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".