[An aged case of peripheral arterial obstructive disease with progressive limb necrosis]

An aged case of peripheral arterial obstructive disease with progressive limb necrosis is reported. A 70-year old man was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of numbness and rest pain on left lower limb. Thereafter, necrosis of the digital region of the upper limbs and the toe region of the lower limbs became progressively worse 3 weeks after onset. Bilateral lower limb amputations after lumbar sympathectomy and digital amputation of upper limbs after thoracic sympathectomy were performed. The histological findings of artery and vein in amputated limbs showed thromboangiitis obliterans. We conclude that Buerger's disease in the aged is rare, but does really exist.