Outcome of infrainguinal endovascular revascularization procedures for limb-threatening ischemia.

This report describes the results of 96 infrainguinal endovascular revascularization procedures performed in 86 patients with limb-threatening ischemia over a 3-year period. There were 41 women and 45 men (mean age 72.9 +/- 11.9 years) including 47 patients (51.1%) with diabetes and 13 (15.1%) with renal insufficiency. All patients had severe ischemia characterized by rest pain (18.8%), ulceration (12.5%), or gangrene (68.8%). Twelve procedures were carried out in association with conventional surgical reconstruction and in eight patients with mixed ulcers a venous procedure was performed during the same session. A total of 143 arterial lesions were treated including 61 occlusions (mean length 5.9 +/- 3.5 cm) and 82 stenoses (mean length 4.6 +/- 3 cm). The following techniques were used: transluminal angioplasty in 99 cases, laser in five cases, Rotablator in 24 cases, and aspiration thrombectomy in 15 cases. Nine patients (10.5%) died in the hospital. Initial failure was observed in 32 patients, of whom 18 underwent subsequent surgical revascularization and 14 required amputation of the extremity within 2 months. Analysis of variance was used to assess the following 12 risk factors for initial failure of endovascular revascularization: sex, age, diabetes, renal insufficiency, associated surgery, treatment of multiple lesions, artery treated, type of lesion, length of lesion, quality of runoff, use of an atherotome, and stent placement. Results showed a significant correlation between initial failure and both quality of runoff (12.9% in patients with two or more patent leg arteries vs. 36.5% in patients with one or fewer patent leg arteries; p < 0.05) and type of lesion (14.5% for stenosis vs. 45.9% for occlusion). Mean follow-up was 9.98 +/- 9.9 months and 4.7% of patients were lost. Restenosis was observed during follow-up of 16 of the 74 initially successful procedures. ANOVA was used to assess the same 12 risk factors for restenosis. Results showed a significant correlation between restenosis and both sex (10.8% in women vs. 32.4% in men; p < 0.05) and age (8% for patients > 80 years of age vs. 28.6% for patients < 80 years; p < 0.05). Primary patency, secondary patency and limb salvage rates calculated according to the actuarial method were 65%, 75%, and 84%, respectively, at 6 months and 47%, 67%, and 81%, respectively, at 1 year. Limb salvage rates for the endoluminal techniques used in this study were satisfactory, especially in elderly patients with either segmental lesions or contraindications for distal bypass.