Overview and comparison of contemporary SVS, AHA, and ESVS guidelines for the management of patients with intermittent claudication

Abstract

Intermittent claudication (IC) is a phenotype of peripheral artery disease (PAD) that is characterized by pain in the lower extremity muscles during activity that is relieved by rest. Medical management, risk factor control, smoking cessation, and exercise therapy have historically been the mainstays of treatment for IC, but advances in endovascular technology have led to increasing use of peripheral vascular interventions (PVI) in this patient population. There are meaningful differences in published society guidelines and appropriate use criteria relevant to the management of IC, especially regarding indications for PVI. The current review aims to highlight similarities and differences between major society recommendations for the management of IC, and to discuss practice trends, disparities, and evidence gaps in the use of PVI for IC in the context of existing guidelines.