Arterial problems seen in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong

Over a 12-month period, 58 patients presented with arterial disease or other arterial problems to the University Surgical Unit, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. These patients accounted for only 0.6% of this Unit's annual admissions. In spite of the reported rarity of atherosclerotic arterial disease in this part of the world, this was the cause of the disease in nearly half of our patients. Abdominal aortic aneurysm was the single most common condition encountered. In at least one-third of patients with atheromatous disease of the aortoiliac segment, chronic peptic ulcers were demonstrated. It is concluded that peripheral arterial disease is rare, but atherosclerosis is the most common cause.