What is critical digital ischemia?

What is critical digital ischemia?

Critical digital ischemia (ischemia that causes pain at rest and which compromises tissue viability as a result of impaired perfusion/oxygenation, potentially leading to ulceration and gangrene) is a rare, but serious complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

What is digital vasospasm?

Pronounced digital vasospasm and ischemia is a common presenting feature in arterial TOS, as a result of thromboembolism to the digital arteries, and may persist despite successful surgical treatment of the proximal embolic source.

What is digital vasculopathy?

Digital vasculopathy (comprising RP, digital ulceration and critical digital ischaemia) is responsible for much of the pain and disability experienced by patients with SSc. However, there is a limited evidence base to guide clinicians in the management of SSc-related digital vasculopathy.

What is a digital ulcer?

What are digital ulcers? Ulcers on the fingers or toes are known as digital ulcers. These can happen in people with a severe form of Raynaud’s phenomenon (also just called Raynaud’s). Raynaud’s affects the blood supply to the fingers and toes.

What causes digital ischemia?

Digital ischemia results from an inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to digital tissue. The presence of digital pain associated with pallor or cyanosis of the skin of the affected digit(s) is the first clinical sign of impending digital tissue loss.

What is digital ischemia?

Digital ischemia is a painful and often disfiguring event. Such an ischemic event often leads to tissue loss and can significantly affect the patient’s quality of life. Digital ischemia can be secondary to a vasculopathy, vasculitis, embolic disease, trauma, or extrinsic vascular compression.

What does Acrocyanosis look like?

Acrocyanosis, a functional peripheral arterial disease, is a persistent, painless bluish discoloration of both hands and, less commonly, of both feet, caused by spasm of the small blood vessels within the skin, usually in response to cold or emotional stress.

What is a digital sympathectomy?

Digital sympathectomy, first described by Flatt, involves stripping the adventitial layer from the affected common and proper digital arteries. Digital sympathectomy may be the only alternative to amputation when medical therapy has failed.

Are digital ulcers painful?

Pain management is also essential as digital ulcers can cause debilitating pain as well as affecting hand function. You may need additional medication to help with digital ulcer pain.

How is digital ischemia treated?

Botox is another reported therapeutic option for Raynaud’s and digital ischemia. Fregene and colleagues found that Botulinum toxin type A improves pain and healing in patients with Raynaud’s and scleroderma. They concluded that it is an effective treatment of vasospastic digital ischemia.

What is the medical dictionary definition of infarct?

( in-fahrk’shŭn) Area of tissue necrosis caused by impaired arterial or venous blood supply due to mechanical factors (e.g., emboli, thrombi) or to blood pressure alterations. Synonym (s): infarct. Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012.

What happens to the tissue around an infarct?

Infarcted tissue swells and becomes firm, and blood vessels around an infarct widen. Plasma and blood may pass into the infarct, increasing the swelling. Later the infarct becomes pale and shrinks and soon it is replaced by fibrous tissue and is converted into a scar which is usually at least as strong as the original tissue.

Which is the best definition of hemorrhagic infarct?

[ in´fahrkt] a localized area of ischemic necrosis produced by anoxia following occlusion of the arterial supply or the venous drainage of the tissue, organ, or part. anemic infarct one due to sudden interruption of arterial circulation to the area. hemorrhagic infarct one that is red owing to oozing of erythrocytes into the injured area.

What are the clinical characteristics of digital ischemia?

Clinical characteristics, depth (superficial, intermediate, and deep) and time to healing of the lesions were recorded. The overwhelming majority of digital lesions, were DUs and DPSs (92.7%). The digital lesions were located more frequently on the second and third digit and mostly on the fingertip area.