Commentary: Below-the-Knee/Ankle Revascularization:Tools of the Trade

Clinical Implications of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Primary Infrapopliteal Angioplasty Approach for Neuro-Ischemic Foot Wounds

BACKGROUND

To assess the clinical effects of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) treated by primary infrapopliteal angioplasty for neuro-ischemic Rutherford 5, foot wounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Over a 10-year period (2009-2019), a series of 304 diabetic ischemic limbs adding or not evincible neuropathic affectation were treated by primary infrapopliteal angioplasty and their files were retrospectively reviewed. Mean length of treated arterial lesions was 6.1 cm (range 1-22 cm). Inferior limb vibration perception threshold diagnostic was performed for comparing and scoring detectable DPN in all studied diabetic patients (classed from 0 to 10 points). There were 19% limbs with normal (0-1 points) perception (group 1), 55% others with "mild" and "moderate" (2-6 points) neuropathic impairment (group 2), and 26% limbs showing "severe" (7-10 points) DPN (group 3).

RESULTS

Primary infrapopliteal angioplasty succeeded in 89% cases in group 1, in 82% in group 2, and in 68% of limbs in group 3. This latest group assembled the heaviest neuropathic affectation and arterial calcifications and proved the lowest clinical benefit at 36 months: 35% (95% confidence interval [CI]=22% to 48%) of primary patency, 36% (95% CI=22% to 50%) wound healing, and 54% (95% CI=39% to 69%) limb preservation rates. A comparison between groups 1 vs 3 and 2 vs 3 of primary patency (p=0.014 and p=0.043), tissue healing (p=0.049 and p=0.01), and limb salvage (p=0.006 and p=0.023) proved significant, yet without statistical weight for group 1 vs 2 (p>0.05). Overall survival was not significantly affected between groups (p=0.34).

CONCLUSION

The presence of severe DPN may jeopardize the results of infrapopliteal angioplasty in terms of patency, tissue cicatrization, and limb preservation, yet without significance on survival of these patients. When present, DPN requires appropriate stratification as specific indicator in CLTI treatment.

Runoff Detected by Magnetic Resonance Angiography as an Indicator for Better Recanalization Outcomes in Below-the-Knee Chronic Total Occlusions in Diabetic Patients

Purpose: To compare the feasibility and efficacy of recanalizing below-the-knee (BTK) chronic total occlusions (CTOs) between patients with good or poor distal runoff based on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) scans. Methods: Two hundred long-segment BTK CTOs in 171 limbs of 113 diabetic patients (58 men; mean age 69.8±1.9 years) were divided into good distal runoff (GDR: 119 lesions, 98 limbs) or poor distal runoff groups (PDR: 81 lesions, 73 limbs) based on baseline MRA findings. After angioplasty, modified thrombolysis in myocardial ischemia (mTIMI) grades and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were used to assess immediate outcomes. Regularly scheduled duplex or MRA imaging was performed in follow-up. The restenosis and limb salvage rates were compared. Results: The success rates were 93.3% and 87.7% in the GDR and PDR groups, respectively (p=0.21); subintimal angioplasty was more common in the PDR group (93.0% vs. 63.1%, p<0.01). Completion angiography indicated an mTIMI grade 3 blood flow in 71.2% lesions in the GDR patients and in 52.1% in the PDR (p=0.01) group. Improvement in the ABI was greater in the GDR limbs (p<0.001 vs. PDR). Mean imaging follow-up was 10.8±6.9 months in the GDR group and 11.1±6.6 months in the PDR group. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a better restenosis-free rate in the GDR group (80.6% vs. 61.7%; p=0.02) at 12 months and for lesions with mTIMI grade 3 flow (p<0.01). At 24 months, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a better limb salvage rate in the GDR group (84.2% vs. 54.6%; p=0.02). Conclusion: Distal runoff detected using MRA could be a predictor for successful intraluminal recanalization, better distal tissue perfusion, improved long-term patency, and better limb salvage for patients with BTK CTOs.

Percutaneous management of chronic critical limb ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is primarily a disease of advanced atherosclerosis but may occur in the setting of other causes. It is essential for the treating physician to understand the complexity of patients with CLI and the appropriate and emerging treatment approaches in this patient population. The authors provide a comprehensive review of the percutaneous endovascular management of CLI in this article.