TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Approach to the Patient with Critical Limb Ischemia of the Lower Extremities: Chronic Peripheral Arterial Disease A1 - Lawson, Christy M. A1 - Grandas, Oscar A2 - Dieter, Robert S. A2 - Dieter, Raymond A. A2 - Dieter, Raymond A. Y1 - 2009 N1 - T2 - Peripheral Arterial Disease AB - Chronic ischemia of the lower extremities is extremely prevalent in Western societies and accounts for a significant amount of morbidity and mortality. Atherosclerosis, although not the only cause of chronic lower extremity ischemia, is, by far, the most common. Together with critical ischemia of the heart, brain, and abdominal organs, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease constitutes the leading cause of death in the United States.1 As the mean age of the population increases, the number of individuals with atherosclerotic lesions of the lower extremities also rises. Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at significantly higher risk of death compared to healthy controls from cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as at increased risk of impaired functional status.2 A basic understanding of the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic peripheral vascular disease is an integral part of medical and surgical practice in the United States. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/16 UR - accesscardiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1127168613 ER -