[Acute peripheral arterial ischemia: diagnosis and interventional therapy].

Acute peripheral arterial ischaemia is characterized by a rapidly developing perfusion deficiency with potential necrosis of the involved extremity. In more than 90% an embolic or thromboembolic etiology is present. Differential diagnosis includes all other vascular disease entities. Digital subtraction angiography is the radiological modality of choice for diagnosis and interventional therapy. Prior to a planned local fibrinolytic therapy potential contraindications have to be excluded.