Upper Extremity Revascularization Procedures

Abstract

Acute arm ischemia due to arterial embolism is relatively common and amenable, in most cases, to simple embolectomy. Chronic arm ischemia is more infrequent. Although endovascular techniques have largely replaced surgical bypass for innominate artery and subclavian artery disease, the rising incidence of diabetes and longer survival times reported in patients with renal impairment have led to increased use of distal bypass procedures in the arm. In this review, we describe a rational approach to emergency and elective arm revascularization, with an emphasis on the technical aspects of these procedures. Key words: acute ischemia, axillary, brachial, chronic ischemia, innominate artery, radial, revascularization, subclavian, ulnar, upper extremity