ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the trends in treatments of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease and their prognosis in the recent 10 years.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of inpatients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease who received surgical treatments in Xuanwu Hospital from January 2002 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were stratified into two groups (group 1: from 2002 to 2006, group 2: from 2007 to 2011). The demographics, risk factors, clinical presentation, lesion anatomy, therapies, limb salvage and survival were observed. χ(2) test, Fisher exact test, and t test were used to compare the data between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From 2002 to 2006, 170 limbs (47.49%) underwent conventional bypass surgery, 72 limbs (20.11%) underwent endovascular interventions and the rest 116 limbs (32.40%) received stem cell treatment. While from 2007 to 2011, the percentages were 18.49%, 68.73%, 8.27%, respectively. Furthermore, gene-based drug appeared, 67 limbs (4.51%) underwent the new treatment. Former group had decreased limb salvage rates compared with latter group (87.15% vs. 93.41%, χ(2)=15.71, P=0.000). However, survival rates did not differ from the two groups (84.67% vs. 84.31%, χ(2)=0.02, P=0.880).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the appearance of new medical instruments and operating methods, the percentage of the patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease receive endovascular interventions increases, with a improved limb salvage rates.</p>