What are the consequences of blockage in the arteries of the legs?
The legs have a remarkable ability to compensate for complete blockage of main arteries by utilizing secondary pathways called collaterals. The compensation can be of such magnitude that some individuals have no symptoms. When the compensation is insufficient, the person often experiences limitation in walking distances such as two to four blocks. In more severe forms of blockage and inadequate compensation the blood supply can be inadequate at rest. In this situation the person will experience pain in the feet during the night or poor healing of small ulceration of the feet and toes. When the deprivation of blood supply is severe the entire leg can be in jeopardy of gangrene and limb loss.
