Ali Hamzaa, Zeeshan Ahmedb, Taha Rafiqc*
a Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
b King Edward Medical University, Pakistan
c University of Galway, Ireland
*Corresponding address: University of Galway, Ireland
Email: taharafiq54@gmail.com
Received: 10 September 2025 / Revised: 07 October 2025 / Accepted: 13 October 2025 / Available Online: 20 October 2025

DOI:

SUMMARY
A 40-year-old male presented with a history of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cheek, recently treated with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, who developed acute limb ischemia and septic shock. The patient arrived with signs of peripheral arterial occlusion and systemic sepsis, including gangrenous changes in the left lower limb and hemodynamic instability. Imaging confirmed arterial thrombosis distal to the common femoral artery. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, vasopressor support, and anticoagulation were initiated, but surgical thrombectomy was initially deferred due to shock. As ischemia progressed to irreversible gangrene, an above-knee amputation was performed for source control, leading to rapid clinical improvement. This case highlights the prothrombotic and immunosuppressive complications of platinum-based chemotherapy, underscoring the need for early vascular assessment, sepsis management, and consideration of prophylactic anticoagulation in high-risk oncology patients. Multidisciplinary coordination remains critical in managing such complex presentations.
Keywords: Septic shock; Acute limb ischemia; Squamous cell carcinoma; Hypercoagulability; Chemotherapy
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Citation: Hamza A et al. Concurrent Acute Limb Ischemia and Septic Shock in a Chemotherapy-Treated Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patient: A Multidisciplinary Challenge. J Sci Technol Educ Art Med. Published online August 30, 2025. doi:10.63137/jsteam.397801
Published online first: October 20, 2025
This article will appear in: J Sci Technol Educ Art Med, Volume 2, Issue 2 (December 2025)

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