A case of mistaken identity: persistent sciatic artery stenosis as a cause of critical limb ischemia.

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the most severe manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and is defined as leg pain that occurs at rest, tissue ulceration, or gangrene. Initial diagnostic testing is often focused on localizing the level or site of atherosclerotic narrowing and determining the severity of ischemia, usually with disease noted below the knee. This report highlights a case of CLI in a patient with an arterial stenosis in an anatomic variant, a persistent sciatic artery. As more endovascular procedures are being done by cardiologists, knowledge of aberrant anatomy is essential in the approach to diagnosis and treatment of patients with PAD. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.