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Arterial embolism - Symptom

Symptoms:

Symptoms may begin quickly or slowly depending on the size of the embolus and how much it blocks the blood flow.

Symptoms of an arterial embolism in the arms or legs may include:

  • Cold arm or leg
  • Decreased or no pulse in an arm or leg
  • Fingers or hands feel cool
  • Lack of movement in the arm or leg
  • Muscle pain in the affected area
  • Muscle spasm in the affected area
  • Numbness and tingling in the arm or leg
  • Pale color of the arm or leg (pallor)
  • Weakness of an arm or leg

Later symptoms:

  • Blisters of the skin fed by the affected artery
  • Shedding (sloughing) of skin
  • Skin erosion (ulcer)
  • Tissue death (necrosis; skin is dark and damaged)

Symptoms of a clot in an organ vary with the organ involved but may include:

  • Pain in the part of the body that is involved
  • Temporarily decreased organ function

Signs and tests:

The health care provider may find decreased or no pulse, and decreased or no blood pressure in the arm or leg. There may be signs of tissue death or gangrene.

Tests to diagnose arterial embolism or reveal the source of emboli may include:

This disease may also affect the results of the following tests:

  • Reviewed last on: 6/1/2010
  • Issam Mikati, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Director, Northwestern Clinic Echocardiography Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Clagett GP, Sobel M, Jackson MR, Lip GY, Tangelder M, Verhaeghe R. Antithrombotic therapy in peripheral arterial occlusive disease: the Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy. Chest. 2004;126(3):609S-626S.

Hirsch AT, Haskal ZJ, Hertzer NR, Bakal CW, Creager MA, Halperin JL, et al. ACC/AHA 2005 practice guidelines for the management of patients with peripheral arterial disease (lower extremity, renal, mesenteric, and abdominal aortic). Circulation. 2006;113:e463-e654.

Goldman L. Approach to the patient wtih possible cardiovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 48.

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