Carotid stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm at the follow-up examination in patients treated for acute extremity ischaemia

To evaluate survivors treated for acute extremity ischaemia as a riskgroup for carotid stenosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm at the follow-up examina tion, Methods, Experimental design: Clinical study with median follow-up of 14 (8 -32) months, Setting: Central Hospital of Central Finland, Patients: Eighte en survivors with median age of 77 (51-92) years treated for acute extremit y ischaemia during two-year period intended to a separate follow-up examina tion median 14 (8-32) months after the acute episode of vascular occlusion. Ischaemia was considered as acute in 14 patients and acute on chronic in f our patients. Interventions: Thromboembolectomy was the primary interventio n excluding two patients with distal upper limb ischaemia who were treated by intravenous heparin Measures: Clinical examination, duplex scanning of c arotid bifurcation and sonography of abdominal aorta were performed at the follow-up examination. Results. Significant asymptomatic carotid stenosis >60% was found in four p atients (22%), two of these patients had significant bilateral carotid sten osis, One patient (6%) had abdominal aortic aneurysm of 5.2 cm, Conclusions In survivors treated for acute extremity ischaemia asymptomatic carotid stenosis >60% was found with significantly increased prevalence co mpared with general population and with equal prevalence when compared with patients with peripheral vascular disease. Occurrence of abdominal aortic aneurysm was parallel with findings in screening surveys.