Acute and critical limb ischemia: when time is limb.

Acute and critical limb ischemia post significant rates of morbidity and death, and need to be promptly recognized and treated to avoid amputation. Perfusion should be thoroughly assessed using multiple methods, and patients should be considered for revascularization (angioplasty or bypass surgery) to restore blood perfusion. Underlying conditions that need to be assessed and treated include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and infection.