Preferential Use of Infrapopliteal Angioplasty for Critical Limb Ischemia: Vascular Surgeons' Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the vascular surgeons' experience with an endovascular-first approach for critical limb ischemia (CLI) due to arteriosclerotic disease involving infrapopliteal vessels. From April 2006 to September 2013, 55 limbs with CLI in 45 consecutive patients who had undergone infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) were evaluated. All limbs presented with ulcers or gangrenes (Rutherford 5 or 6), and were treated with infrapopliteal PTA as the initial treatment. Clinical outcomes of major adverse limb event (MALE) + perioperative death (POD), amputation-free survival (AFS), limb salvage, and survival were analyzed with the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariable perioperative predictors of MALE + POD and AFS were identified using the stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression model. The technical success rate was 95% (52/55). Clinical success was attained in 37 of 55 limbs (67%). Freedom from MALE + POD, AFS, limb salvage, and survival were 89%, 84%, 92%, and 92% at 6 months, respectively, and 82%, 68%, 89%, and 78% at 12 months, respectively. Clinical success (HR, 0.06; 0.01–0.50; P = 0.009) was associated with freedom from MALE + POD. Rutherford 6 (HR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1–8.3; P < 0.004) and clinical success (HR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.07–0.49; P < 0.0007) were associated with AFS. These results suggest that infrapopliteal PTA can be offered as a first therapeutic option for a significant proportion of patients with CLI. Vascular surgeons must embrace and validate endovascular technology if they are to remain competitive in treatment of peripheral artery disease.