Buerger's disease occurs in small and medium-sized arteries. It is a chronic inflammation of blood vessels. The disease mostly occurs in young males. Most patients have smoking history. The lesion involves all layers of the blood vessels, causing narrowness and occlusion. In severe cases, ulcer or gangrene can occur on fingers or toes. Buerger's disease can even be fatal. Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for Buerger's disease. Early symptoms include limb paleness, coldness, soreness, fatigue, abnormal sensation, and mild intermittent claudication. Superficial veins have redness and tenderness and they look like streaks. Quitting smoking is the fundamental way to slow down the disease progression and prevent amputation. However quitting smoking cannot completely stop the progression of the disease. Common surgical treatment includes bypass revascularization, sympathetic ganglion resection, omental transplantation, arteriovenous bypass, and vascular endarterectomy.
How is Buerger's disease treated in practice?