Percutaneous transluminal angiography combined with continuous small dose local infusion of urokinase for treatment of infrapopliteal critical limb ischemia in diabetic patients / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of percutaneous transluminal angiography in diabetic infrapopliteal arterial disease patients and the influence of post-procedural intraluminal small dose urokinase infusion on infrapopliteal arterial blood flow.Methods From January 2011 to September 2013,37 limbs (16 left and 21 right) in 28 diabetic patients inflicted with infrapopliteal critical limb ischemia underwent endovascular recannalization at our institution and were retrospectively analyzed.Stenotic or occlusive lesions were demonstrated in 74 infrapopliteal vessels,including 30 anterior tibial arteries (ATA),22 posterior tibial arteries (PTA),and 22 peroneal arteries (PA).In 30 limbs,tandem lesions in iliac-femoral arteries were also diagnosed.Antegrade ipsilateral femoral access,retrograde contralateral femoral or brachial arterial access had all been adopted as well as both angioplasty and stenting.Case specific decisions were made based on pre-procedural computed tomographic angiogram (CTA).Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was recorded before and after each procedure.Urokinase was continuously infused through arterial sheath catheter into vessels of target limb from a microinfusion pump at 200 000 to 300 000 units per 24 hour for 48 hours after procedure.Angiogram was performed before and after thrombolysis therapy aiming to ascertain the number of frames of images obtained during the period of time it took blood flow to carry contrast medium from the level of tibial plateau to ankle,which was recorded as index frame count (IFC).Patients were followed up for at least 3 months.ABI and ultrasound or CTA were performed on each follow-up visit to validate patency.Quantitative data such as ABI value and IFC were analyzed using paired samples t-test.Results Thirty two limbs were radiographically recanalized by angioplasty or stenting.Technical success rate was 86.4％ (32/37).Average ABI of all limbs increased significantly from 0.70±0.31 to 0.90± 0.21 (t=10.734,P＜0.05).Of the 32 limbs recanalized,IFC decreased significantly from 6.3 ± 1.6 before thrombolysis to 4.7± 1.4 after thrombolysis (t=12.136,P＜0.05).Six rest pain patients reported significantly alleviated symptoms.Fourteen limbs presented with feet ulcers or gangrene.Of these patients after endovascular treatment,1 underwent ankle level amputation,3 underwent toe amputation and 3 patients who did not seek further treatment reported spontaneous autoamputation and wound healing.The remaining 9 patients reported wound healing within 1 to 3 months.Secondary angioplasty was needed for symptom recurrence in 3 limbs of 3 patients 3 to 24 months after first procedure.Conclusions Endovascular treatment of diabetic infrapopliteal arterial diseases exhibited significant short term effect and was safe to perform.Small dose urokinase infusion after recanalization procedure was safe and effective in helping to improve infragenicular blood flow.