Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

The patient's symptoms of severe, sudden pain in the lower extremity, absence of pulses, and a cool, pale presentation are characteristic of acute arterial occlusion, which is a manifestation of peripheral vascular disease. Acute arterial occlusion requires immediate intervention to restore blood flow and prevent tissue death. Chronic arterial insufficiency typically presents gradually with intermittent claudication, not sudden severe pain. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) presents with pain, swelling, and erythema, primarily in the calf, and would not typically cause absent arterial pulses or a pale foot. Venous insufficiency results in symptoms such as varicose veins, edema, and skin changes but not sudden severe pain and pulselessness.