Comparison of Clinical Outcomes after Surgical and Endovascular Revascularization in Hemodialysis Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

Popliteal-Distal Bypass Affords Better Limb Salvage than Tibial Angioplasty for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia

OBJECTIVE

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) due to isolated tibial occlusive disease is treated by either popliteal distal bypass or tibial angioplasty, although there is limited data directly comparing efficacy and outcomes between these two treatment modalities. This study compares 30-day mortality and major adverse limb events following infrapopliteal bypass and tibial angioplasty in patients with CLTI.

METHODS

Patients who underwent popliteal distal bypass for CLTI were extracted from American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program targeted lower extremity open database, whereas patient with CLTI who underwent isolated tibial angioplasty were identified in the targeted lower extremity endovascular database. Any case with more proximal angioplasty such as femoral/pop/iliac was excluded. The time interval was 2011-2022. The two groups were comparable in demographics and pre-operative comorbidities were obtained using propensity matching. Mortality, systemic complications, and major adverse limb events were measured. Multivariable logistic regression was used for data analysis. To obtain granular data on the angiographic characteristics of patients undergoing popliteal-distal bypass or tibial angioplasty, The George Washington University institutional data from 2014 to 2019 was used as supplement to the database.

RESULTS

There were 1,947 and 3,423 cases identified in the bypass and endovascular groups, respectively. After propensity matching for all preoperative variables, 1,747 cases remained in each group. Although bypass was associated with higher major adverse cardiovascular events, pulmonary, renal, and wound complications, bypass had significantly better 30-day limb salvage when compared to tibial angioplasty (major amputation rate 3.32% vs. 6.12%; p<0.01). Institutional data identified 69 patients with CLTI due to isolated tibial occlusive disease; 25 (36.2%) underwent popliteal-distal bypass and 44 (63.8%) underwent tibial angioplasty. Reviewing of angiographic details revealed patients who underwent popliteal-distal bypass had better pedal targets (inframalleolar/pedal score of P0 [24.0% vs 15.9%] or P1 [68.0% vs 61.3%]) than tibial angioplasty patients (inframalleolar/pedal score of P2 [22.7% vs 8.0%]).

CONCLUSION

Popliteal-distal bypass was associated with higher morbidity but better limb salvage than endovascular interventions. However, this could be explained by the association with better pedal targets in patients who underwent popliteal-tibial bypass. Prospective studies should be done comparing popliteal distal bypasses and tibial angioplasty in cases with similar pedal targets.

Comparison of mortality and amputation after lower extremity bypass versus peripheral vascular intervention in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia and comorbid chronic kidney disease

OBJECTIVE

Comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with worse outcomes for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). However, comparative effectiveness data are limited for lower extremity bypass (LEB) vs peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) in patients with CLTI and CKD. We aimed to evaluate (1) 30-day all-cause mortality and amputation and (2) 5-year all-cause mortality and amputation for LEB vs PVI in patients with comorbid CKD.

METHODS

Individuals who underwent LEB and PVI were queried from the Vascular Quality Initiative with Medicare claims-linked outcomes data. Propensity scores were calculated using 13 variables, and a 1:1 matching method was used. The mortality risk at 30 days and 5 years in LEB vs PVI by CKD was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models, with interaction terms added for CKD. For amputation, cumulative incidence functions and Fine-Gray models were used to account for the competing risk of death, with interaction terms for CKD added.

RESULTS

Of 4084 patients (2042 per group), the mean age was 71.0 ± 10.8 years, and 69.0% were male. Irrespective of CKD status, 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.63-1.42, P = .78) was similar for LEB vs PVI, but LEB was associated with a lower risk of 30-day amputation (sub-HR [sHR]: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.97, P = .04). CKD status, however, did not modify these results. Similarly, LEB vs PVI was associated with a lower risk of 5-year mortality (HR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.71-0.88, P < .001) but no difference in 5-year amputation (sHR: 1.03, 95% CI: 0.89-1.20, P = .67). CKD status did not modify these results.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of CKD status, patients had a lower risk of 5-year all-cause mortality and 30-day amputation with LEB vs PVI. Results may help inform preference-sensitive treatment decisions on LEB vs PVI for patients with CLTI and CKD, who may commonly be deemed too high risk for surgery.

Long-Term Effectiveness of Cilostazol in Patients with Hemodialysis with Peripheral Artery Disease

AIM

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of continuous cilostazol use on emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and vascular outcomes in patients with hemodialysis (HD) with peripheral artery disease (PAD).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study recruited 558 adult patients, who had received chronic HD for at least 90 days between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2012, from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Eligible patients were divided into two groups based on continuing or discontinuing cilostazol treatment. Outcome measures were ED visits, hospitalizations, mortality, and vascular outcomes such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, surgical bypass, lower leg amputation, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and cardiovascular events.

RESULTS

Patients with continuous cilostazol use had significantly higher prevalence of stroke, cancer, vintage, and the use of angiotensin receptor blocker and β-blocker, but significantly lower incidence of ischemic stroke and cardiovascular events, as well as lower mortality, than those without continuous cilostazol use (all p＜.05). Continuous cilostazol use was independently associated with lower risk of ED visits, hemorrhagic stroke, and cardiovascular events (adjusted hazard ratios: 0.79, 0.29, and 0.67; 95% confidence intervals: 0.62-0.98, 0.10-0.84, and 0.48-0.96, respectively; all p＜.05). Continuous cilostazol use was significantly associated with higher ED visit-free and cardiovascular event-free rates (log-rank test; p＜.05).

CONCLUSION

Continuous treatment of cilostazol in patients with HD with PAD significantly decreases the risk of ED visits, hemorrhagic stroke, and cardiovascular events and improves ED visit-free and cardiovascular event-free rates during long-term follow-up.

Bypass surgery versus endovascular intervention for lower extremity revascularization in patients with chronic renal disease or end-stage renal disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Endovascular revascularization (ER) and open revascularization (OR) are recognized treatment modalities for peripheral artery disease, but whether one technique provides better outcomes than the other is unclear, especially in patients with chronic or end-stage renal disease.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search on the PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar databases. We considered randomized-controlled trials, and retrospective record-based and prospective studies for inclusion. All included studies compared patient outcomes between the two management modalities and reported adjusted effect sizes.

RESULTS

We found the risks of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.30-0.92) and 30-day mortality (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.49-0.80) during the post-operative period to be significantly lower in patients undergoing ER than in those undergoing OR. The pooled odds of amputation within 30 days of the post-operative period suggested a significantly higher risk of amputation in patients undergoing ER (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.32-1.73) than in the others. Compared to patients undergoing OR, those undergoing ER had higher odds of being discharged to home (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.58-3.36), lower odds of wound complications within 24 months of the post-operative period (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.15-0.79), and a reduced length of hospital stay (WMD - 5.9; 95% CI - 10.8 to - 1.00).

CONCLUSIONS

For elderly patients with ESRD and chronic limb ischemia, ER may be the best choice due to its lower risk of mortality, lower odds of wound complications, reduced length of hospital stay, and reduced risk of re-intervention requirement when compared to OR. However, OR should be considered as an option when limb salvage is preferred.

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.

Vasculogenic Chronic Ulcer: Tissue Regeneration with an Innovative Dermal Substitute

The healing of venous and arterial ulcers is slow, and in some cases, they may not heal at all. This study aims to demonstrate the clinical advantage of Nevelia®, an innovative collagen dermal template substitute (DS) in venous and arterial chronic ulcers treatment. 35 patients affected by chronic vascular ulcers with a mean area of 35.1 ± 31.8 cm2 were treated with DS followed by autologous dermal epidermal graft (DEG). Follow-up was performed at 7-14-21 and 28 days after DS implant and 7-14-21 and 28 days after DEG. At 28 days after DEG, the mean values of Manchester Scar Scale was of 1.8 ± 0.7 for skin color, 1.6 ± 0.7 for skin contour, 1.7 ± 0.7 for distortion, and 1.7 ± 0.7 for skin texture, whereas skin was matte in 27 patients (77%) and shiny in the remaining eight cases (23%). Histological findings correlate with the clinical result showing a regenerated skin with reactive epidermal hyperplasia and dermal granulation tissue after two weeks (T1), and after three weeks (T2) a re-epithelialization and a formed new tissue architecture analogue to normal skin physiology. These data suggest that Nevelia® could be useful to treat chronic venous and arterial ulcers.

Comparison of open and endovascular procedures in patients with critical limb ischemia on dialysis

OBJECTIVE

Peripheral artery disease is a common comorbidity in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but there is a paucity of data comparing outcomes of different interventions in this group of patients. In this study, we examined perioperative outcomes of lower extremity endovascular revascularization (ER) and open revascularization (OR) in dialysis patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).

METHODS

Patients on dialysis and undergoing ER and OR for CLI from 2011 to 2015 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset. Patient demographics, comorbidities, anatomic features, and perioperative outcomes were compared between ER and OR procedures.

RESULTS

From 2011 to 2015, 1021 lower extremity revascularizations were performed in dialysis patients with CLI. In this group, 535 were ER (53%) and 486 were OR (47%) procedures. Although demographic characteristics such as age and gender were similar between the two groups, there was a higher proportion of Caucasians and African Americans in the OR group. Patients undergoing open and endovascular procedures had similar rates of hypertension, congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bleeding disorders. A minority of procedures (4%) were emergencies, which were distributed equally between the two groups. Preoperative aspirin usage was higher in the ER group (84% vs 78%; P = .024), beta-blocker use was higher in the OR group (79% vs 74%; P = .08), and statin use was similar between the two groups (72% in OR and 70% in ER; P = .54). On risk-adjusted multivariate analysis, OR was associated with a lower rate of major amputation (5.97% vs 11.78%; odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.85), but a higher rate of postoperative bleeding (29.6% vs 8.97%; odds ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.8-4.35) and wound complications (15% vs 3%; odds ratio, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.38-8.3). The 30-day mortality and cardiovascular morbidity were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with ESRD with CLI, OR is associated with a lower risk of major limb amputation but a higher rate of postoperative wound complications and bleeding, compared with ER. Cardiovascular complications, 30-day mortality, reinterventions and readmissions were similar between the two groups. In patients with ESRD with CLI, OR should be considered as an option for limb salvage if feasible. Long-term outcomes comparing the two types of procedures are needed.

Clinical Effects of Planned Endovascular Therapy for Critical Limb Ischemia Patients with Tissue Loss

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of planned endovascular therapy (EVT) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients with tissue loss. Although several rounds of EVT for CLI patients are required for complete wound healing, time required for complete wound healing depends on the wound severity. We hypothesized that planned EVT might reduce the time to wound healing.

Methods: A total of 89 limbs of 76 CLI patients with tissue loss, who had undergone more than at least two EVTs were included in this study. From January 2013 through December 2015 (Conventional-EVT-group, 52 limbs), indication of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was decided based on decreased skin perfusion pressure (SPP) values or delayed wound healing. From January 2016 through October 2016 (Planned-EVT-group, 37 limbs), TLR were done every two months regardless of the SPP values until complete wound healing was obtained. Time to wound healing and complete wound healing rates were compared between the two groups.

Results: No significant differences existed in baseline patients and lesion characteristics between the two groups. There was no significant difference in total EVT numbers between the two groups (2.0; interquartile range, 2.0–3.0 versus 2.0; interquartile range, 2.0–3.0; P = 0.9). Although complete wound healing rate was similar in both groups (71.2% versus 73.0%, p = 1.0), time to wound healing was significantly shorter (95 days versus 143 days, p = 0.025) in the Planned-EVT-group than in the Conventional-EVT-group.

Conclusions: Planned-EVT is a useful strategy to shorten the time to wound healing for CLI patients with tissue loss.

Open Versus Endovascular Revascularization of Below-Knee Arteries in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia

Background:

Evaluation of below-the-knee open revascularization (OR) versus endovascular revascularization (EVT) in patients with end-stage renal disease and critical limb ischemia (CLI) was performed.

Patients and Methods:

Seventy-seven dialysis patients with CLI and infrapopliteal involvement from 2007 to 2017 were included. Thirty-five patients received OR and 42 patients were treated with EVT. Survival, amputation-free survival (AFS) and wound-healing were evaluated. Furthermore, both groups were analyzed for differences as to anatomic (lesion length, runoff, pedal arch classification) and clinical (VSG risk score, WIfI score) characteristics.

Results:

Amputation-free survival (1-year AFS: OR 54.5% vs 47.6% in EVT, 2-year AFS OR 38.3% vs 23.9% EVT, P = .201) did not significantly differ between OR and EVT nor did the wound healing rate (29% OR vs 31% EVT, P = .532). Overall survival was noticeably poor (1-year survival: 66.7% in OR and 49% in EVT, 2-year survival OR 47.4% vs EVT 27.7%; P = .088); evaluation of peripheral runoff (Rutherford score 6.9 OR vs 7.1 EVT, P = .499) and pedal arch classification as well as WIfI or VSG risk score (9.8 OR vs 9.6 EVT, P = .673) could not detect significant differences as to both the groups. Treated median lesion length was significantly increased in OR patients (OR 26 cm vs EVT 7 cm, P < .001), whereas the incidence of major adverse cardiac events was higher in EVT patients (67% in EVT vs 40% OR, P = .023).

Conclusion:

OR and EVT showed comparable outcomes as to AFS and wound healing. Poor overall survival remains the determining factor in patients with ESRD having CLI. Both groups differ in terms of anatomic features as lesion length and severity of comorbidities; considering the comparable long-term outcomes, decision-making should be based on these premises; individually applied, each method can contribute to limb salvage, although the overall survival remains limited.

Clinical Outcomes after Isolated Infrapopliteal Revascularization in Hemodialysis Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia: Endovascular Therapy versus Bypass Surgery

AIM

To investigate the long-term clinical outcome of endovascular therapy (EVT) or bypass surgery in patients on hemodialysis (HD) with critical limb ischemia due to isolated infrapopliteal disease.

METHODS

We enrolled 254 consecutive HD patients successfully undergoing infrapopliteal revascularization by EVT (126 patients) and bypass surgery (128 patients). They were followed up for five years. Amputation-free survival (AFS) and incidence of any re-intervention were evaluated. A propensity score from all baseline variables was incorporated into Cox analysis.

RESULTS

In the EVT group, age was higher (p=0.039), diabetes and coronary artery disease were more frequent (p=0.004 and p=0.0052, respectively), and tissue loss was more rarely observed (p＜ 0.0001) than in the bypass group. During the follow-up period, 21 major amputations and 64 deaths occurred. The propensity score-adjusted AFS rate at 5 years was comparable between groups (61.0% in EVT group vs. 55.1% in the bypass group, adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-1.42, p=0.58). The adjusted survival rates were also similar between groups for amputation and all-cause mortality. However, freedom from any re-intervention was markedly lower in the EVT than in the bypass group (48.6% vs. 84.6%, adjusted-HR, 3.56, 95% CI 1.95-6.75, p＜ 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of AFS was broadly comparable between the two strategies, although compared with bypass surgery, EVT had much higher rates for re-intervention.

Current Perspective on Hemodialysis Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

The prevalence of peripheral artery disease is substantially higher in patients on chronic hemodialysis than in the general population. The presence of calcified lesions characteristic of hemodialysis patients has an adverse influence on the initial success and long-term outcomes of both surgical bypass and endovascular therapy. Although the selection of revascularization strategy depends on whether an autologous vein is available and if the patient has a life expectancy of at least two years, it is difficult to predict the life expectancy in a real-world clinical situation. Endovascular therapy may be appropriate for many hemodialysis patients with poor general condition because of the high risk of perioperative complications and the poor long-term prognosis. Deciding which treatment option is more appropriate should be done on a case-by-case basis, especially in hemodialysis patients with critical limb ischemia.