Primary care providers are often the first providers to evaluate a patient for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Understanding the various presentations of PAD symptoms can prevent the disease from progressing to critical limb ischemia and eventual limb loss. This article provided the primary care provider with information needed to prevent limb loss and promote limb salvage, including risk factor management, clinical presentation, physical exam findings, and treatment options.
Keywords: Limb salvage; critical limb ischemia; primary care provider.