Patterns of chronic ischaemia of the upper limbs in the central province of Sri Lanka

Introduction: A 30-year audit and management experience of chronic upper limb ischaemia  in the Central Province of Sri Lanka is detailed. No previous Sri Lankan documentation on this topic exists.

 

Materials and Methods: Data collected prospectively from 1974 to 2004 using a standard protocol was analysed.

 

Results: Patterns of chronic ischaemic disorders seen dominantly among the 290 patients included in the study were, Aortic Arch Syndrome caused by both atherosclerosis (n=11) and Takayasu’s aorto – arteritis (n=7), Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (n=6), occlusion of major arteries of  supply to the upper limb due to atherosclerosis (n=29), thromboangitis  obliterans  (n=188), giant cell arteritis (n=1), chronic arterial trauma (n= 2), chronic embolism (n= 3), haematological causes (n=4), Ergot induced vaso spasm (n=1), and vasculitides (n=38 ).Their management is detailed.

 

Discussion and conclusions: Knowing the Sri Lankan patterns will help local clinicians to expedite it’s differential diagnosis.