What is a vascular occlusion?
A person with a vascular occlusion has a blocked blood vessel, caused by a blood clot in an artery. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The blockage interrupts the flow of blood to the tissue supplied by the artery. The tissue starts to die when it does not receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Vascular occlusion is more common in those who have atherosclerosis.

What are the symptoms of a vascular occlusion?
Symptoms of a vascular occlusion include pain, numbness, weakness, and paleness of the part of the body that receives blood from the artery. Symptoms of a vascular occlusion in a leg or arm also include an absent pulse in the foot or wrist.

How does the doctor treat a vascular occlusion?
Treatment for a vascular occlusion includes thrombolytic therapy to dissolve the clot, or surgery to remove the clot.