Patterns of presentation and outcome in critical limb ischemia

The threatened limb due to peripheral occlusive arterial disease, embolism or trauma requires early recognition and urgent treatment if the limb is to be saved. To determine the pattern of presentation and outcome of surgery in cases of critical limb ischemia. Descriptive study. This study was conducted at surgical ward, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from Dec 2006 to Dec 2007. A sample size of 30 patients was taken by convenience sampling. Informed written consent was obtained from all patients. Patients suffering from rest pain with ischemia features, trophic lesions, extensive gangrene, ulcers and demonstrable presence of occlusive arterial disease were included in the study. Moribund patients, extensive cardiopulmonary disease or advanced malignancy were not included in the study. Thirty patients were included in the study. The mean age was 56 +/- 13. There were 28 males [93.3%] and 2 females [6.7%]. They were all married and belonged to middle and low middle social economic class. Out of 30, there were 2 [6.7%] cases of trauma while 28 [93.3%] had peripheral vascular involvement secondary to thromboembolism. Vessels involved were femoral artery in 9 [30%] cases, popliteal artery in 18 [60%] cases and brachial artery in 2 [6.7%] cases. Rest pain was present as a primary feature in all the patients [100%], while tissue loss or gangrene was seen in 22 [73.33%] cases. A total of 14 [46.7%] amputations, 6 [20%] bypass procedures, 4 [13.3%] lumbar sympathectomies, and 2 [6.7%] embolectomies, were carried out, whereas 4 [13.3%] patients were managed conservatively. Of the patients having rest pain 46.7% were amputated, whereas of patients having ischemic tissue loss 73.3% were amputated. 13 patients who underwent primary amputation had ankle brachial pressure index [ABPI less than 0.4 [86.7%]. ABPI was more than 0.4 in 4 [13.3%] patients whereas it was less than 0.4 in 26 [86.7%] patients. Overall, critical leg ischemia has a very poor prognosis. If surgical, or endovascular, improvement of the blood supply to the leg is not provided in due course; half of the legs will be amputated within a year. One of the main goals of vascular surgery is to prevent major amputations