Acute ischemia of the lower legs from blunt abdominal trauma: an unusual cause of atheroembolism--case report.

A 79-year-old man sustained blunt abdominal trauma in an automobile crash, resulting in intra-abdominal bleeding and acute ischemia of the lower extremities. Angiography demonstrated occlusion of the popliteal arteries bilaterally. He died of multiple organ failure despite immediate surgical intervention. Pathologic examination revealed diffuse atheroembolism of the lower legs.