[Clinical diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans]

The diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterans of the lower extremities can be made by the history alone or by the physical examination alone in the most patients. It is very important to evaluate the hemodynamic study in determination of indication for operation and operative procedures. The two major symptoms, each of which diagnostic, are intermittent claudication and ischemic rest pain. Intermittent claudication is pain or fatigue that occurs in a muscle or muscle group on repititive use. The anatomical level of claudication is significant. When aorto-iliac artery is obstructed, pain may occur first in the hip or thighs. Pain occurs in the calf in the occlusion of the femoral artery and foot pain indicates the occlusion of distal popliteal artery. Ischemic rest pain indicates an advanced stage of the disease. Fontaine classification is usually used as the stage of ischemia on the extremity. There are many laboratory evaluations of circulatory insufficiency in the diagnosis of arteriosclerotic obliterans. Measurement of segmental blood pressure is most valuable and useful among various measurements. We can get critical informations of circulatory insufficiency in the leg using segmental blood pressure. In order to differentiate from arteriosclerotic obliterans there are thromboanyitis obliterans aortitis syndrome, popliteal arterial entrapment syndrome, spinal canal stenosis, and diabetic arterial occlusive disease.