What is the most likely diagnosis for a 62-year-old man with coolness and absent pulses in the right leg?

The scenario describes a 62-year-old man experiencing coolness and absent pulses in the right leg, which are indicative of a significant vascular issue. The absence of pulses suggests that there is inadequate blood flow to the affected limb, which is a primary sign of acute limb ischemia.

In this case, the most likely diagnosis is embolic arterial occlusion. This condition occurs when a blood clot or other debris forms in a blood vessel and then travels to a distant location, ultimately lodging in a peripheral artery. The result is a sudden loss of blood supply to the area, leading to symptoms such as coolness, pain, and the absence of pulses in the affected limb. The abrupt onset of these symptoms aligns well with the characteristics of an embolic event.

While other conditions like cellulitis and deep venous thrombosis can cause leg symptoms, they typically do not present with such marked absence of pulses and limb coolness. Rhabdomyolysis, while it can lead to muscle damage and resultant complications, does not specifically result in the acute clinical picture of diminished blood flow in the same manner as an embolic occlusion. Therefore, considering all these aspects, the clinical presentation strongly supports the diagnosis of embolic arterial occlusion.