Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
Methods for Acute and Subacute Murine Hindlimb Ischemia
Published on: June 21, 2016
Evidence for nonoperative management of acute limb ischemia in infants
Jesus M Matos1, Andres Fajardo, Michael C Dalsing
1Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Insights
Acute limb ischemia (ALI) in infants is serious. Most infants with ALI can be treated nonoperatively with anticoagulation, with intervention reserved for tissue loss cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric vascular surgery
- Neonatal critical care
Background:
- Acute limb ischemia (ALI) in infants is a rare but severe condition.
- Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial for limb salvage and patient survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the presentation, management, and outcomes of infants diagnosed with acute limb ischemia.
- To establish evidence-based recommendations for the optimal treatment strategy for ALI in neonates.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of a database was conducted to identify all infant patients diagnosed with ALI.
- Clinical data including presentation, treatment modality (nonoperative vs. surgical), and outcomes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Twelve infants with ALI were identified, with cyanotic limbs being the most common presentation.
- Eleven patients were successfully managed nonoperatively with anticoagulation; one required surgical thrombectomy.
- All patients achieved limb viability on follow-up, with three deaths attributed to comorbidities. Three complications occurred in the conservatively managed group.
Conclusions:
- Conservative management with anticoagulation is effective for most infants with ALI.
- Surgical intervention should be reserved for cases with confirmed tissue loss.
- This approach prioritizes limb salvage while minimizing intervention-related risks in the neonatal population.
Abstract:
Acute limb ischemia (ALI) in infants is a catastrophic event. We performed a query of our database to determine those with ALI. Twelve patients were identified. The most frequent presentation was cyanotic limbs. Eleven patients were treated nonoperatively with anticoagulation. One patient was treated surgically with Fogarty balloon thrombectomy. There were three deaths all due to associated comorbidities. All had viable limbs on follow-up examination. There were three complications in the patients managed conservatively. Our recommendation for infants presenting with ALI is conservative observation with anticoagulation and intervention only for cases with tissue loss.
