Skip to main content

Chronic Arterial Ischemia of the Upper Extremity: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Surgical Management

  • Chapter
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Part of the book series: Springer Specialist Surgery Series ((SPECIALIST))

  • 6064 Accesses

Summary

Chronic ischemia of the upper extremity reflects progression of occlusive disease, vasos-pastic disease, or both—vaso-occlusive disease. In contrast to the lower extremity, vasospastic disease is more common and critical in the upper extremity. Although less common in the upper extremity, atherosclerotic disease is functionally more problematic.

When nutritional flow is inadequate for local metabolic demands, chronic ischemia becomes problematic with pain, tissue loss, and persistent infection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

DBI:

Digital brachial index

PTA:

Percutaneous angioplasty

PVR:

Pulse volume recordings

References

  1. Balogh B, Mayer W, Vesely M, Mayer S, Partsch H, Piza-Katzer H. Adventitial stripping of the radial and ulnar arteries in Raynaud's disease. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2002 Nov;27(6):1073–1080.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chloros GD, Smerlis NN, Li Z, Smith TL, Smith BP, Koman LA. Noninvasive evaluation of upper-extremity vascular perfusion. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2008 Apr;33(4):591–600. PMID: 18406965 [PubMed—in process]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Dalman RL. Upper extremity arterial bypass distal to the wrist. Ann Vasc Surg. 1997 Sep;11(5):550–557. Review.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Dineen S, Smith S, Arko FR. Successful percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the radial artery in a patient with chronic upper extremity ischemia and digital gangrene. J Endovasc Ther. 2007 June;14(3):426–428.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Drake DB, Kesler RW, Morgan RF. Digital sympathectomy for refractory Raynaud's phenomenon in an adolescent. J Rheumatol. 1992 Aug;19(8):1286–1288.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. El-Gammal TA, Blair WF. Digital periarterial sympathec-tomy for ischaemic digital pain and ulcers. J Hand Surg [Br]. 1991 Nov;16(4):382–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ferraresi R, Ferlini M, Sozzi F, Pomidossi G, Caravaggi C, Danzi GB. Images in cardiovascular medicine. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for treatment of critical hand ischemia. Circulation. 2006 Aug 8;114(6):e232–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gray H. Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body. 29th American edn. In: Goss CM, ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lea & Febiger; 1973:613, 615, 618, 621, 623..

    Google Scholar 

  9. Guzman-Stein G, Schubert W, Najarian DW, Press BH, Cunningham BL. Composite in situ vein bypass for upper extremity revascularization. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1989 Mar;83(3):533–536.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hashimoto H. Impaired microvascular vasodilator reserve in chronic cigarette smokers–a study of post-occlusive reactive hyperemia in the human finger. Jpn Circ J. 1994 Jan;58(1):29–33.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Heller F, Wei W, Wei FC. Chronic arterial insufficiency of the hand with fingertip necrosis 1 year after harvesting a radial forearm free flap. Plast Reconstr Surg. Sep 1;2004 114(3):728–731.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Hsieh CH, Tsai HH, Yin JW, Lin TS, Jeng SF. Salvage of the hand with a free flap in a hemodialysis patient with fin-ger gangrene and ipsilateral arteriovenous fistula: a case report. Ann Vasc Surg. 2004 May;18(3):365–368.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hughes K, Hamdan A, Schermerhorn M, Giordano A, Scovell S, Pomposelli F Jr. Bypass for chronic ischemia of the upper extremity: results in 20 patients. J Vasc Surg. 2007 Aug;46(2):303–307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hussey HH. Digital gangrene. JAMA. 1976 Dec. 6;236 (23):2656.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jones NF. Acute and chronic ischemia of the hand: pathophysiology, treatment, and prognosis. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1991 Nov;16(6):1074–1083.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jones NF. Ischemia of the hand in systemic disease. The potential role of microsurgical revascularization and digital sympathectomy. Clin Plast Surg. 1989 July;16(3): 547–556. Review.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Katz SG, Kohl RD. Direct revascularization for the treatment of forearm and hand ischemia. Am J Surg. 1993 Mar;165(3):312–316. Review.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Koman LA, Ruch DS, Aldridge M, Smith BP, Holden MB, Fulcher M. Arterial reconstruction in the ischemic hand and wrist: effects on microvascular physiology and health-related quality of life. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1998 Sep;23(5):773–782.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Koman LA, Smith B P, Pollock FE Jr, SmithTL, Pollock D, Russell GB. The microcirculatory effects of peripheral sympathectomy. J Hand Surg [Am].. Sep;1995 20(5): 709–717.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kotsis S V, Chung KC. A systematic review of the outcomes of digital sympathectomy for treatment of chronic digital ischemia. J Rheumatol. 2003 Aug;30(8):1788–1792. Review.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kransdorf MJ, Turner-Stepahin S, Merritt WH. Magnetic resonance angiography of the hand and wrist: evaluation of patients with severe ischemic disease. J Reconstr Microsurg. 1998 Feb;14(2):77–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kryger ZB, Rawlani V, Dumanian GA. Treatment of chronic digital ischemia with direct microsurgical revasculariza-tion. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2007 Nov;32(9):1466–1470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Laroche G P, Bernatz PE, Joyce JW, MacCarty CS. Chronic arterial insufficiency of the upper extremity. Mayo Clin Proc. 1976 Mar;51(3):180–186.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. McCall TE, Petersen DP, Wong LB. The use of digital artery sympathectomy as a salvage procedure for severe ischemia of Raynaud's disease and phenomenon. J Hand Surg [Am]. 1999 Jan;24(1):173–177.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. McNamara MF, Takaki HS, Ya o JS, Bergan JJ. A systematic approach to severe hand ischemia. Surgery. 1978 Jan;83(1):1–11. Review.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mills JL, Fujitani RM. Acute and chronic upper extremity ischemia. II. Small vessel arterial occlusive disease. Ann Vasc Surg. 1993 Mar;7(2):195–199.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Namdari S, Park MJ, Weiss AP, Carney WI. Chronic hand ischemia treated with radial artery balloon angioplasty: case report. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2008 Apr;33(4):551–554. PMID: 18406959 [PubMed—in process]

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Namdari S, Weiss AP, Carney WI Jr. Palmar bypass for digital ischemia. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2007 Oct;32(8):1251–1258. PMID: 17923311 (PubMed—indexed for MEDLINE.)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Nehler MR, Dalman RL, Harris EJ, Taylor LM Jr, Porter JM. Upper extremity arterial bypass distal to the wrist. J Vasc Surg. 1992 Oct;16(4):633–640; discussion 640–642.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. O'Brien BM, Kumar PA, Mellow CG, Oliver T V. Radical microarteriolysis in the treatment of vasospastic disorders of the hand, especially scleroderma. J Hand Surg [Br]. 1992 Aug;17(4):447–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ortensi A, Salsano F, Trinchi S, D'orazi V, Pisarri S. Microsurgical distal sympathectomy in chronic vasos-pastic syndromes of the hand. Int Surg. Apr—June. 2005; 90(2):88–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Ouriel K. Noninvasive diagnosis of upper extremity vascular disease. Semin Vasc Surg. 1998 June;11(2):54–59. Review.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Pederson WC. Revascularization of the chronically isch-emic hand. Hand Clin. 1999 Nov;15(4):629–642. Review.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Ristow AV, Cury JM, Costa EL, GardeazĂ¡bal G, Sampaio MM, Peixoto CC. Revascularization of the ischaemic hand using in situ veins. Cardiovasc Surg. 1996 Aug;4(4):466–469.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Ruch DS, Holden M, Smith BP, Smith TL, Koman LA. Periarterial sympathectomy in scleroderma patients: intermediate-term follow-up. J Hand Surg [Am]. 2002 Mar;27(2):258–264. PMID: 11901385 (PubMed—indexed for MEDLINE.)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Summers AN, Matloub HS, Sanger JR. Salvage of isch-emic digits using a lateral arm fascial flap. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001 Feb;107(2):398–407.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Taylor LM Jr, BaurGM, Porter JM. Finger gangrene caused by small artery occlusive disease. Ann Surg. Apr;1981; 193(4):453–461.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Tham S, Grossman JA. Limited microsurgical arteriolysis for complications of digital vasospasm. J Hand Surg [Br]. 1997 June;22(3):359–361.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Walgenbach KJ, Voigt M, Andree C, Stark GB, Horch RE. Management of hypovascularized wounds not responding to conventional therapy by means of free muscle transplantation. VASA. 2001 July; 30(3):206–211.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Wilgis EF. Digital sympathectomy for vascular insuffi-ciency. Hand Clin. 1985 May;1(2):361–367.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Wilgis E F. Evaluation and treatment of chronic digital ischemia. Ann Surg. 1981 June;193(6):693–698.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Yee AM, Hotchkiss RN, Paget SA. Adventitial stripping: a digit saving procedure in refractory Raynaud's phenomenon. J Rheumatol. 1998 Feb;25(2):269–276.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Zhang WW, Harris LM, Shenoy SS, Hassett JM, Wall L P. Outcomes of patients with atherosclerotic upper extremity tissue loss. Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2005 Jan–Feb; 39(1):33–38.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hendrickson, M.F. (2010). Chronic Arterial Ischemia of the Upper Extremity: Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Surgical Management. In: Siemionow, M.Z., Eisenmann-Klein, M. (eds) Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Springer Specialist Surgery Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-513-0_40

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-513-0_40

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-512-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-513-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics