Thrombolysis in Acute Limb Ischemia

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) arguably presents one of the most challenging problems that vascular surgeons face. As a general rule, the severity of the ischemia typically determines the urgency and type of revascularization. While open surgery remains the gold standard, over the past couple decades, endovascular interventions have expanded and may eventually dominate the field. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the role, indications, and outcomes of endovascular interventions in patients presenting with lower extremity acute limb ischemia, primarily focusing on complications and strategies to avoid them.