New possibilities of maximal revascularization of the foot as a limb salvage procedure in diabetics

Abstract

Diabetics and patients with chronic renal insufficiency often have severe peripheral arterial disease of the distal lower limbs with obstructions of crural and pedal arteries and the imminent risk of critical ischemia and major amputation. Neuroischemic foot ulcers have been shown to fail to heal even after successful arterial revascularization. We report on two diabetic patients with the neuroischemic diabetic foot syndrome and different clinical outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of chronic occluded crural arteries and discuss, whether endovascular revascularisation of infrapopliteal and pedal arteries, if possible with complete plantar arch, could promote ulcer healing in neuroischemic diabetic foot ulcers.