Update experience of surgery for acute limb ischaemia in a district general hospital - are we getting any better?

2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, chronic symptomatic, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and acute limb ischemia).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from October 2020 to June 2022, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that was published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2023 during the peer review process, were also considered by the writing committee and added to the evidence tables where appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Recommendations from the "2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with peripheral artery disease have been developed.

2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines

AIM

The "2024 ACC/AHA/AACVPR/APMA/ABC/SCAI/SVM/SVN/SVS/SIR/VESS Guideline for the Management of Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease across its multiple clinical presentation subsets (ie, asymptomatic, chronic symptomatic, chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and acute limb ischemia).

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted from October 2020 to June 2022, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that was published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINHL Complete, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through May 2023 during the peer review process, were also considered by the writing committee and added to the evidence tables where appropriate.

STRUCTURE

Recommendations from the "2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease" have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing comprehensive care for patients with peripheral artery disease have been developed.

Cryptogenic acute lower extremities and multiorgan ischemia in an 8-year-old girl

Pediatric acute limb ischemia is rare but can have devastating effects on children. The most common causes of acute limb ischemia in the pediatric age group are iatrogenic injury during cardiac catheterization and traumatic vessel injury. Embolic events have been described less often. We present the case of an 8-year-old girl with cryptogenic extensive bilateral lower extremity ischemia and embolization to multiple visceral organs. Our findings have highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary workup, timely intervention, and the advantage of intraoperative imaging for revascularization.

Asia-Pacific Consensus Statement on the Management of Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report from the Asian Pacific Society of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Disease Asia-Pacific Peripheral Artery Disease Consensus Statement Project Committee

BACKGROUND

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the most underdiagnosed, underestimated and undertreated of the atherosclerotic vascular diseases despite its poor prognosis. There may be racial or contextual differences in the Asia-Pacific region as to epidemiology, availability of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, and even patient treatment response. The Asian Pacific Society of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Diseases (APSAVD) thus coordinated the development of an Asia-Pacific Consensus Statement (APCS) on the Management of PAD.

OBJECTIVES

The APSAVD aimed to accomplish the following: 1) determine the applicability of the 2016 AHA/ACC guidelines on the Management of Patients with Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease to the Asia-Pacific region; 2) review Asia-Pacific literature; and 3) increase the awareness of PAD.

METHODOLOGY

A Steering Committee was organized to oversee development of the APCS, appoint a Technical Working Group (TWG) and Consensus Panel (CP). The TWG appraised the relevance of the 2016 AHA/ACC PAD Guideline and proposed recommendations which were reviewed by the CP using a modified Delphi technique.

RESULTS

A total of 91 recommendations were generated covering history and physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of PAD-3 new recommendations, 31 adaptations and 57 adopted statements. This Asia-Pacific Consensus Statement on the Management of PAD constitutes the first for the Asia-Pacific Region. It is intended for use by health practitioners involved in preventing, diagnosing and treating patients with PAD and ultimately the patients and their families themselves.

2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Since 1980, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have translated scientific evidence into clinical practice guidelines with recommendations to improve cardiovascular health. These guidelines, based on systematic methods to evaluate and classify evidence, provide a cornerstone of quality cardiovascular care.

In response to reports from the Institute of Medicine1 ,2 and a mandate to evaluate new knowledge and maintain relevance at the point of care, the ACC/AHA Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines (Task Force) modified its methodology.3 –5 The relationships among guidelines, data standards, appropriate use criteria, and performance measures are addressed elsewhere.5

2016 AHA/ACC Guideline on the Management of Patients With Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines

Since 1980, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have translated scientific evidence into clinical practice guidelines with recommendations to improve cardiovascular health. These guidelines, based on systematic methods to evaluate and classify evidence, provide a cornerstone of quality cardiovascular care.

In response to reports from the Institute of Medicine1 ,2 and a mandate to evaluate new knowledge and maintain relevance at the point of care, the ACC/AHA Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines (Task Force) modified its methodology.3 –5 The relationships among guidelines, data standards, appropriate use criteria, and performance measures are addressed elsewhere.5

Risk factors analysis of thromboembolectomy for acute thromboembolic lower extremity ischemia in native arteries

BACKGROUND

Aim of this study is to report the results of thromboembolectomy (ThEmb) for acute thromboembolic lower limb ischemia (ATLI) in native arteries and to create a predictive score for amputation-free survival (AFS) at 30 days.

METHODS

It is a single center, retrospective analysis of a four years period. All patients had ThEmb: adjunctive procedures included femoral and/or popliteal endarterectomy in 30 (18.3%) cases, PTA-stent in 24 (14.6%), and femoral endarterectomy plus PTA-stent in 12 (7.3%). Fasciotomies were performed in 6 (3.6%) patients. Predictors of AFS identified on univariate screen (inclusion threshold, P<.20) were included in a multivariable model. The resulting significant predictors were assigned an integer score to stratify patients into risk groups.

RESULTS

Authors analyzed 164 limbs in 164 patients. Mean age was 80±10 years (range, 40-99). In-hospital mortality was 9.8% (N.=16); AFS at 30 days was 84.7% (N.=139). The anatomic level (iliac vs. femoropopliteal vs. infrapopliteal) of the occlusion did not affect AFS (P=.326). Multivariable analysis identified six significant predictors of AFS at 30 days: age >85 (P=0.050), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P=0.008), chronic renal insufficiency (P=0.019), late (>6 hours) onset (P=0.004), the presence of major neurologic deficit (P=0.023), and an increased (>800IU/L) level of creatine phosphokinase (P=0.001). An integer score generated two risk groups (low-risk 0-2 [70.1% of cohort], and high-risk ≥3 [29.9% of cohort]): stratification of the patients according to risk category yielded significantly different AFS at 30 days (low-risk 5.2% vs. high-risk 38.8%, P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients selected to undergo ThEmb for ATLI in native arteries, this risk score identified a group of patients with a 40% chance of death or major amputation at 30 days. The score can help to optimize the operative strategy, but further prospective validation is needed.

Direct Stenting in Patients with Acute Lower Limb Arterial Occlusions: Immediate and Long-Term Results

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to accentuate the efficacy of direct stenting (stent placement without predilatation of the lesion) in patients with acute lower limb arterial ischemia (ALLI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2010 and September 2015, 16 patients (11 men and 5 women) underwent direct stenting of acute arterial occlusions. All patients had contraindication for surgical revascularization or catheter-directed thrombolysis. According to SVS/ISCVS Classification, six patients had IIa and ten patients IIb ALLI. The occlusions were located in CIA, EIA, SFA, or popliteal artery. Mean follow-up time with clinical examination and color Duplex ultrasonography was 37.6 months (range 1-72). We analyzed the technical and clinical outcomes of the procedures, as well the complications and patency rates.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in all patients (16/16) and there was significant clinical improvement in 15 patients. There was neither distal embolization nor procedure-related complications. During the 6 years of follow-up, four patients died due to non-procedure-related causes and there were two minor and one major amputations. The primary patency rates and the amputation-free survival rates were 93.7 and 87% at 1 year, 75.2 and 71.2% at 3 years, and 75.2 and 62.3%, respectively, at 6 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Direct stenting may be a valuable alternative procedure for acute arterial occlusions in selected cases with high technical success and significant clinical improvement.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4, Case Series.

Sources of Delay in the Acute Limb Ischemia Patient Pathway

BACKGROUND

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) continues to pose a significant challenge to clinicians and is associated with an unacceptably high rate of morbidity and mortality. Despite its time critical nature, little is known regarding the delays encountered during the patient pathway. The aim of this study was to identify sources of delay in the patient pathway at our institution.

METHODS

Sixty-seven cases of ALI of the lower extremities from 66 patients, who had presented to our center between May 2003 and April 2014, were identified for retrospective analysis. Data were retrieved from the patient records, discharge summaries and hospital laboratory, emergency department and radiology databases.

RESULTS

Median time from onset of symptom to arrival at our institution was 11.35 hr (interquartile range [IQR] 6.27-72). Median cumulative time taken from arrival to vascular team review was 40 min (22.5-120), to imaging being performed was 4.75 hr (2.42-17.25), and to intervention being performed was 10.2 hr (4-31). There were significantly longer delays to presentation in those transferred from inpatient beds as compared with those transferred from the emergency department of other hospitals (66 hr [10.3-98] vs. 8 hr [5.6-14.9], P = 0.007). In total, 84.6% of patients underwent preoperative arterial imaging. Time taken from arrival to diagnostic arterial imaging was significantly longer in patients presenting out-of-ours (15 hr [6.5-20.75]) as compared with patients presenting in-hours (3.5 hr [2-6.5], P = 0.014) or during the weekend (2 hr [2-3], P = 0.022). Time from presentation to intervention was significantly shorter in patients presenting over the weekend (3.9 hr [2.6-5.1]) as compared with those presenting in-hours (14.2 hr [6.2-29], P = 0.006) and out-of-hours (16 hr [10-33], P = 0.021). Out-of-hours, a significant portion of the delay, was attributable to imaging (median time to imaging 15 hr).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the systematic nature of delays in the patient pathway from onset of symptoms to treatment. Several factors including time to patient presentation and time to imaging and delays in timely transfer to an appropriate facility contribute to this. Strategies need to be deployed to reduce time to revascularization.

Patient delay is the main cause of treatment delay in acute limb ischemia: an investigation of pre- and in-hospital time delay

Background

The prognosis of acute limb ischemia is severe, with amputation rates of up to 25% and in-hospital mortality of 9-15%. Delay in treatment increases the risk of major amputation and may be present at different stages, including patient delay, doctors´ delay and waiting time in the emergency department. It is important to identify existing problems in order to reduce time delay.

The aim of this study was to collect data for patients with acute limb ischemia and to evaluate the time delay between the different events from onset of symptoms to specialist evaluation and further treatment with focus on pre-hospital and in-hospital time delays.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cross-sectional cohort study including all patients suspected with acute limb ischemia who were admitted to the emergency department of a community hospital in a six months period. Temporal delay in the different phases between the time of occurrence of symptoms and completion of treatment was recorded prospectively. All patients who underwent intervention had a 30 days follow-up with regard to major amputation of the leg and survival.

Results

A total of 42 patients (21 men and 21 women) age 73 (20–95) years (median (range)) was identified.

From onset of symptoms to first contact with a doctor the time for all patients were 24 (0–1200) hours. Thirty patients needed immediate intervention. In the group of fourteen patients who had immediate operation, the median time from vascular evaluation to revascularization was 324.5 (122–873) minutes and in the group of eight patients that went through an imaging procedure before an operation the median delay was 822 (494–1185) minutes from specialist assessment to revascularization. The median time for revascularization among four patients, who were treated with arterial thrombolysis was 5621 (1686–8376) minutes.

At 30 days follow up, six patients had had the ischemic limb amputated above the ankle and four patients had died.

Conclusions

We found that the largest time delay was between onset of symptoms and first contact to a medical doctor. A greater public awareness is needed, so as to facilitate urgent revascularisation and improve outcomes.

Acute limb ischemia: surgical thromboembolectomy and the clinical course of arterial revascularization at ankle

Surgical thromboembolectomy for acute limb ischemia using Fogarty catheter is basically a blind procedure. Therefore, the complete removal of thromboemboli in all calf arteries is difficult even if completion angiography or radiological intervention is performed. The purpose of this study is to identify whether limb salvage could be achieved if at least one ankle artery was revascularized by surgical thromboembolectomy. We also observed the effectiveness of below-knee popliteal approach. Over 1 year, surgical thromboembolectomy via below-knee popliteal artery was performed on 18 acutely ischemic limbs in 14 consecutive patients. All patients were diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and computed tomography (CT) angiography. Surgical thromboembolectomy was terminated when a pulse was detected by a handheld vascular Doppler device in at least one ankle artery after closing the arteriotomy. Patients were observed during postoperative anticoagulation therapy. Of the 14 patients, 1 died and 1 underwent amputation due to the already necrotized lesion in the foot. After 1 week of anticoagulation therapy, two or more arterial pulses were detected at the ankles in all 15 limbs from the remaining 12 patients. During the 6 to 18 months of follow-up, all 15 limbs were salvaged successfully. In acute limb ischemia, successful limb salvage could be achieved by the revascularization of at least one ankle artery by surgical thromboembolectomy with concomitant anticoagulation therapy. Below-knee popliteal approach is an effective method and is worth for further study compared with other approaches.