Postprandial rest pain and claudication of the lower extremity: A case report

Postprandial rest pain and claudication in the lower extremities may occur in arteriosclerotic aortic occlusion when mesenteric and systemic collateral pathways provide inadequate blood flow to the extremity. The symptoms occur as a result of vasodilation of the distal mesenteric vascular bed with a concomitant increase in mesenteric blood flow which leads to a decrease in mesenteric artery to extremity collateral blood flow. This normal physiologic phenomenon, increase in mesenteric blood flow, causes the extremity pain. Such symptoms indicate a quite significant decrease in blood flow to the extremity, and prompt surgical correction is indicated. Aortofemoral reconstruction yields total reflief of the symptom complex.