Trends in mortality, readmissions, and complications after endovascular and open infrainguinal revascularization

Toward Uniform Case Identification Criteria in Observational Studies on Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is commonly applied for symptoms related to atherosclerotic obstructions in the lower extremity, though its clinical manifestations range from an abnormal ankle-brachial index to critical limb ischemia. Subsequently, management and prognosis of PAD vary widely with the disease stage. A critical aspect is how this variation is addressed in administrative database-based studies that rely on diagnosis codes for case identification. The objective of this scoping review is to inventory the identification strategies used in studies on PAD that rely on administrative databases, to map the pros and cons of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes applied, and to propose a first outline for a consensus framework for case identification in administrative databases.

METHODS

Registry-based reports published between 2010 and 2021 were identified through a systematic PubMed search. Studies were subcategorized on the basis of the expressed study focus: claudication, critical limb ischemia, or general peripheral arterial disease, and the ICD code(s) applied for case identification mapped.

RESULTS

Ninety studies were identified, of which 36 (40%) did not specify the grade of PAD studied. Forty-nine (54%) articles specified PAD grade studied. Five (6%) articles specified different PAD subgroups in methods and baseline demographics, but not in further analyses. Mapping of the ICD codes applied for case identification for studies that specified the PAD grade studied indicated a remarkable heterogeneity, overlap, and inconsistency.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of registry-based studies on PAD fail to define the study focus. In addition, inconsistent strategies are used for PAD case identification in studies that report a focus. These findings challenge study validity and interfere with inter-study comparison. This scoping review provides a first initiative for a consensus framework for standardized case selection in administrative studies on PAD. It is anticipated that more uniform coding will improve study validity and facilitate inter-study comparisons.

Mortality and Morbidity After Open Surgical Lower Extremity Revascularization in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease and Concurrent Abdominal Stoma

OBJECTIVES

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) often require treatment with open lower extremity revascularization (LER). Patients with PAD often have other comorbidities and associated conditions that affect procedural outcomes, including abdominal stomas. The aim of this work is to investigate the impact that stomas may have on postoperative outcomes and complications.

METHODS

We performed a 5-year (2016-2020) analysis of the Nationwide Readmission Database. We identified all adult patients undergoing open LER. These patients were categorized into 2 groups: stoma and no-stoma. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to control for demographics and comorbidities. Index admission outcomes and readmission rate were examined.

RESULTS

212,275 open LER patients were identified. A matched cohort of 3088 patients (1:1 stoma vs no-stoma) was obtained. Patients with stomas had higher rates of several postoperative complications: acute posthemorrhagic anemia (29.1%, P < 0.01), acute kidney injury (21.4%, P < 0.001), index sepsis (10.3%, P < 0.001), and index SSI (2.8%, P < 0.001). There were no significant statistical differences between the 2 groups for acute myocardial infarction. Those with stomas had worse outcomes: greater in-hospital mortality (4.7%, P < 0.05), length of stays (median 7 days, P < 0.001), total charges (median 108,037 dollars, P < 0.001), discharges to long-term care facilities (30.8%, P < 0.001), discharges to their own homes needing home health care (30.1%, P < 0.001), 30-day readmission rates (23.2%, P < 0.01), and 30-day readmission mortality (6.1%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Concurrent abdominal stoma is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality after open LER. Further prospective studies are needed to validate these results.

Editor's Choice - Analysis of Lower Limb Amputations in Brazil's Public Health System over 13 Years

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the causes of amputation is crucial for defining health policies that seek to avoid such an outcome, but only a few studies have investigated the epidemiology of patients submitted to amputations in developing countries. The objective of this study was to analyse all lower limb amputations performed in the public health system in Brazil over a 13 year period, evaluating trends in the number of cases, patient demographics, associated aetiologies, hospital length of stay, and in hospital mortality rate.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, population based analysis of all lower limb amputations performed in the Brazilian public health system between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2020. Using a public database, all types of amputations were selected, defining the number of procedures, their main aetiologies, anatomical level of limb loss, demographic data, regional distribution, and other variables of interest.

RESULTS

A total of 633 455 amputations were performed between 2008 and 2020, mostly (55.6%) minor amputations, predominantly in males (67%). There was an upward trend in the number of amputations, determined mainly by the increase in major amputations (50.4% increase in the period). Elderly individuals have the highest rates of amputation. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is becoming the main primary diagnosis associated with amputations over the years. The highest in hospital mortality rate occurred after major amputations and was associated with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

CONCLUSION

Amputation rates in Brazil show an upward trend. DM is becoming the most frequent associated primary diagnosis, although PAD is the diagnosis most associated with major amputations and in hospital death.

LATE RESULTS OF TREATING PATIENTS WITH OCCLUSIVE-STENOTIC LESIONS OF THE AORTA INFRARENAL SEGMENT'S MAIN ARTERIES

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To analyze the results of surgical treatment in the late postoperative period after using modern types of surgical technologies for occlusive-stenotic atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta's main arteries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The total of 420 patients were operated on. The patient's age ranged from 45 to 87 years (in the mean, 66.7±2.3 years). Men pre¬dominated - 375 (89.29%), and women were 45 (10.71%). According to the ischemia classification by Rutherford - 324 (77%) patients fell under categories 4, 5, 6 of the classification. 98 patients were operated on by the open method, 243 by the endovascular method, and 79 by the hybrid method. We assessed such indices as: postoperative thrombosis, limb amputations, mortality, and repeated operations performed due to complications or unsuccessful results of the primary operation.

RESULTS

Results: It was ascertained, a decrease in the number of postoperative complications from 7.87% to 4.39% (t=2,11, p=0,035), repeated operations - from 7.87% to 4.39% (t=2,11, p=0,035), amputations - from 3.63% to 2.19% (t=1,24, p=0,214) and mortality - from 3.03% to 1.09% (t=2,03, p=0,042) in the group where in-depth examination methods were applied, a treatment algorithm based on individual anatomical and hemodynamic features was implemented, techniques for performing operations were improved.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The analysis of late results of surgical interventions showed that the largest number of complications was found in the group of patients with multistory occlusive-stenotic lesions of arteries.

CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND COMPLICATIONS OF ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIMB-THREATENING ISCHEMIA

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To review the results of endovascular treatment in patients with chronic threatening ischemia of lower extremities as well as to assess the level of complications developed after the use of modern endovascular technologies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: 243 patients with occlusive-stenotic lesions of major arteries of infrarenal aorta, operated on by various endovascular techniques, were studied. 51 of them (20.98%) had multi-level lesions. All experimental group patients (83) were thoroughly evaluated preoperatively including assessment of probable development of arterial thrombosis of affected extremity after the surgery. Besides, endovascular treatment algorithm developed and introduced by the authors on the basis of individual anatomical and hemodynamic parameters was used.

RESULTS

Results: Thrombosis was the major early postoperative complication in both study groups, being registered in 21 patients (10.6%). The incidence of thrombosis was statistically higher in the control group as compared to experimental group - 11.53% and 7.14%, respectively (p<0.05). 15 patients of both groups underwent amputations - 12 patients (7.5%) in the control group, and 3 patients (3.6%) in experimental group. Early postoperative mortality rate was 2.56% in the control group, while there were no deaths in experimental group in early postoperative period.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Continuous ultrasound monitoring, avoidance of subintimal positioning of endovascular devices, use of rotary-mechanical thromboaspiration, drug-coated balloons and stents, regional thrombolytic therapy, as well as the concept of angiosome-directed therapy used in the study for restoration of artery patency, made it possible to improve treatment outcomes and decrease complications.

Outcomes and Costs of Open and Endovascular Revascularisation for Chronic Limb Ischaemia in an Australian Cohort

OBJECTIVE

The costs of open and endovascular revascularisation to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) have not been fully established. This study examined the costs of both the index admission and any readmissions to hospital within 30 days of discharge for people having revascularisation at a single centre in Australia.

METHODS

This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Eligible participants were those presenting with chronic limb ischaemia requiring revascularisation between 2002 and 2017. Generalised linear modelling was used to estimate mean (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) hospital costs for the index and readmission hospital treatments.

RESULTS

A total of 302 participants presenting with intermittent claudication (n=219; 72.5%) or chronic limb threatening ischaemia (n=83; 27.5%) treated by open (n=116; 38.4%) or endovascular (n=186; 61.6%) revascularisation were included. Forty-eight (48) (15.9%) participants were readmitted within 30 days of discharge from their index admission. The mean estimated index admission hospital cost was AUD$13,827 (95% CI, $11,935-$15,818) per person. This cost was significantly greater for open as compared to endovascular revascularisation (p<0.001). The mean estimated hospital cost was AUD$15,324 ($10,944-$19,966) per person readmitted. When comparing participants treated before and after 2010, the total hospital costs decreased, mainly due to decreased lengths of hospital stay for open procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study the hospital costs were less for endovascular than open revascularisation of chronic limb ischaemia. Costs decreased over time. Readmission is an important contributor to the overall costs of peripheral revascularisation.