Clinical signs and limitations in acute limb ischaemia
THE CONTEXT
Assessment of acute limb ischaemia includes pain, pallor, pulselessness, coldness, paraesthesia and paralysis, but some findings have important limitations.
Interpreting the findings
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Pain may be absent in complete acute ischaemia and may also occur in chronic ischaemia.
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Pallor and pulselessness are listed clinical findings.
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A 'perishing cold' limb is unreliable because the ischaemic limb takes on the ambient temperature.
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Paraesthesia and paralysis are identified as important features of impending irreversible ischaemia.