Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is a severe form of peripheral arterial disease that results in constant pain, usually in the extremities. Danielle Sutzko, MD, program director for the Vascular Surgery Residency at UAB, discusses the importance of classifying claudication (arterial pain) along a spectrum and treating it appropriately.

Many patients with mild peripheral arterial disease may simply manage their condition with cholesterol agents, smoking cessation, and exercise programs – if the condition is identified early and monitored accurately. She explains the factors that determine the type of interventions for those with CLTI. She also discusses how new research works to include vulnerable populations in broad treatment guidelines for peripheral arterial disease.