Diagnosis and treatment of chronic lower extremity ischemia.

Chronic lower extremity ischemia is due to progressive atherosclerosis of the aorto-iliac and/or infrainguinal arteries. This disease process is of great importance as millions of patients are affected by lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. Most of these patients are asymptomatic but a growing number of them are symptomatic, with complaints ranging from mild claudication to gangrene. The increasing number of patients affected by lower extremity atherosclerosis is, in part, due to the 'graying' of the general population and to the medical improvements of the past three decades that have allowed patients with generalized atherosclerosis to survive longer. Fortunately, the diagnosis and management of peripheral arterial occlusive disease has also significantly progressed leading to improved graft patency, limb salvage rates, and quality of life for patients.