01/20/2026
A vascular occlusion is a medical emergency. If left untreated it can lead to vascular compromise… tissue injury, death, infection, scarring, and lifelong disability.
The incidence of this complication, although rare, is highest with injectors with less then 5 years of experience (1/7,000), but still there with seasoned injectors (1/70,000).
How these events are managed defines outcomes.
Was it recognized promptly?
Did you have an emergency contact to expedite diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis?
Did they assess and treat before any additional complication like infection or complications were established?
Understanding these risks and their potential outcome is pivotal in safe and efficacious care.
That’s why Bardöt ensures EVERY patient who walks out of our clinic door has our emergency contact number as well as can find it online on our website, business cards, or after care instructions! If you ever need it 403-763-3464
These basic standards that we have had since day one are now becoming mandated across Canada by Health Canada, left to colleges and effectively every practice policy to enforce.
Knowing what to watch for, when to reach out, and who to contact along with expedited care is what defines us.
Did you know most vascular occlusions we see are caused by other clinics who don’t have protocols in place to manage these relatively common complications?
This video illustrates the signs to watch for when any patient or provider is worried about an occlusion.
Slow capillary refill. A sluggish response to blood flow.