What symptom is indicative of acute arterial occlusion?

Cold extremities is a classic symptom indicative of acute arterial occlusion. This condition occurs when blood flow to a particular area of the body, usually a limb, is suddenly blocked. The lack of arterial blood supply swiftly leads to a drop in temperature due to insufficient oxygen and nutrient delivery to the tissues, resulting in the affected extremity feeling noticeably colder than surrounding areas.

Other symptoms of acute arterial occlusion can include severe pain that occurs suddenly, often described as a sharp or throbbing sensation. While paresthesia (abnormal sensations such as tingling) can also occur, the pronounced coldness of the extremity typically serves as a more immediate and visually observable sign of critical ischemia. In contrast, intermittent pain and claudication are more often associated with chronic arterial insufficiency rather than acute events. Thus, while they can indicate problems with blood flow, they do not specifically point to the acute occlusion condition as clearly as the presence of cold extremities.