ABSTRACT
Background: Acute limb ischaemia (ALI) is of great clinical importance due to its consequent serious complications and high comorbidity and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute success and complication rates of CDT performed via transradial, transbrachial, and transfemoral access sites in patients with acute lower limb vascular occlusion and to investigate the 1-year outcomes of CDT and MT for ALI. Methods: Between 2008 and 2019, 84 consecutive patients with ALI were treated with CDT in a large community hospital. Data were collected and retrospectively analysed. The primary ("safety") endpoints encompassed major adverse events (MAEs), major adverse limb events (MALEs), and the occurrence of complications related to the access site. Secondary ("efficacy") endpoints included both technical and clinical achievements, treatment success, fluoroscopy time, radiation dose, procedure time, and the crossover rate to an alternative puncture site. Results: CDT was started with radial (n = 17), brachial (n = 9), or femoral (n = 58) access. CDT was technically successful in 74/84 patients (88%), but additional MT and angioplasty and/or stent implantation was necessary in 17 (20.2%) and 45 cases (53.6%), respectively. Clinical success was achieved in 74/84 cases (88%). The mortality rate at 1 year was 14.3%. The cumulative incidence of MAEs and MALEs at 12 months was 50% and 40.5%, respectively. After conducting multivariate analysis, history of Rutherford stage IIB (hazard ratio [HR], 3.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-8.41; p = 0.0025), occlusion of the external iliac artery (HR, 27.52; 95% CI, 2.83-267.33; p = 0.0043), being a case of clinically unsuccessful thrombolysis (HR, 7.72; 95% CI, 2.48-23.10; p = 0.0004), and the presence of diabetes mellitus (HR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.01-4.71; p = 0.047) were independent predictors of a high MAE mortality rate at 12 months. For MALEs, statistically significant differences were detected with the variables history of Rutherford stage IIB (HR, 4.30; 95% CI, 1.99-9.31; p = 0.0002) and external iliac artery occlusion (HR, 31.27; 95% CI, 3.47-282.23; p = 0.0022). Conclusions: Based on the short-term results of CDT, acute limb ischaemia can be successfully, safely, and effectively treated with catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy with radial, brachial, or femoral access. However, radial access is associated with fewer access site complications. A history of Rutherford stage IIB, occlusion of external iliac artery, unsuccessful thrombolysis, and the presence of diabetes mellitus were independently associated with an increased risk of MAEs. A history of Rutherford stage IIB and external iliac artery occlusion are independent predictors of MALEs.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the applicability of fractional flow reserve measurement (FFR) in below-the-knee (BTK) arteries and to evaluate its correlation with non-invasive functional parameters before and after angioplasty. METHODS: We enrolled 39 patients with severe BTK arterial lesions. Inclusion criteria were critical limb ischemia (Rutherford 4-6) and angiographically proven arterial stenosis of the distal lower limb (percent diameter stenosis ≥70%). Exclusion criteria were chronic total occlusion, diabetic foot syndrome and non-viable distal lower limb. The transstenotic distal/proximal pressure ratio was measured under resting (Pd/Pa) and hyperemic (FFR) conditions induced by 40mg intra-arterial Papaverin and was compared with quantitative angiography-, laser Doppler- and duplex ultrasound-derived measurements before and after percutaneous angioplasty (PTA). RESULTS: Comparing measurements before and after PTA, we found significant improvements in the resting Pd/Pa values (0.79 [0.67-0.90] vs 0.90 [0.85-0.97]; p<0.001) and FFR values (0.60±0.19 vs 0.76±0.15; p<0.001), respectively. At baseline, Pd/Pa ratio and FFR were significantly albeit weakly correlated with % area stenosis (r:-0.31, p=0.05 and r:-0.31, p=0.05, respectively). After PTA, neither Pd/Pa nor FFR remained correlated with % area stenosis. Similarly, prior PTA, Pd/Pa ratio and FFR were significantly correlated with TcO2% and perfusion unit change (r:0.48, p<0.01 and r:0.34, p<0.05, respectively), but after intervention, these significant correlations vanished. Pd/Pa and FFR values did not show correlation with duplex ultrasound-derived measurements. At 1year, major adverse events (MAEs) and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular (MACCEs) were observed in 7 (17.9%) and in 9 (23.1%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: CLI due to severe BTK arterial disease was associated with several impediments of baseline pressure measurements which were significantly improved after successful PTA and stenting. Significant relationships between pressure data and functional and imaging parameters existed prior intervention but vanished after. Further studies are required to determine the clinical value of pre- and post-PTA pressure measurements in BTK arterial disease.
