Comparison of the Incidence of Complications and Secondary Surgical Interventions Necessary in Patients with Chronic Lower Limb Ischemia Treated by Both Open and Endovascular Surgeries

Association of depression and anxiety disorders with outcomes after revascularization in chronic limb-threatening ischemia hospitalizations nationwide

OBJECTIVE

Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), the end stage of peripheral artery disease, often present with comorbid depression and anxiety disorders. The prevalence of these comorbidities in the inpatient context over time, and their association with outcomes after revascularization and resource usage is unknown.

METHODS

Using the 2011 to 2017 National Inpatient Sample, two cohorts were created-CLTI hospitalizations with endovascular revascularization and CLTI hospitalizations with surgical revascularization. Within each cohort, the annual prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder diagnoses was determined, and temporal trends were evaluated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Hierarchical multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the association of depression and anxiety disorder diagnoses with inpatient major amputation, mortality, length of stay (LOS), and cost, adjusting for illness severity, comorbidities, and potential bias in the documentation of depression and anxiety disorder diagnoses stratified by patient sociodemographic data.

RESULTS

Across the study period were a total of 245,507 CLTI-related hospitalizations with endovascular revascularization and 138,922 with surgical revascularization. Hospitalizations with a depression or anxiety disorder diagnosis increased from 10.8% in 2011 to 15.3% in 2017 in the endovascular revascularization cohort and from 11.7% in 2011 to 14.4% in 2017 in the surgical revascularization cohort (P_trend < .001). In the endovascular revascularization cohort, depression was associated with higher odds of major amputation (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.30). In addition, depression (9 vs 8 days [P < .001]; $105,754 vs $102,481 [P = .018]) and anxiety disorder (9 vs 8 days [P < .001]; $109,496 vs $102,324 [P < .001]) diagnoses were associated with a longer median LOS and higher median costs. In the surgical revascularization cohort, depression was associated with a higher odds of major amputation (odds ratio, 1.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.58) and a longer LOS (median, 9 vs 9 days; P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and anxiety disorder diagnoses have become increasingly prevalent among CLTI hospitalizations including revascularizations. When present, these psychiatric comorbidities are associated with an increased risk of amputation and greater resource usage.

Animal models of ischemic limb ulcers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aims of this systematic review were to assess the clinical relevance and quality of previously published animal models of ischemic ulceration and examine the available evidence for interventions improving ulcer healing in these models. Publicly available databases were searched for original studies investigating the effect of limb ischemia on wound healing in animal models. The quality of studies was assessed using two tools based on the Animal research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines and the clinical relevance of the models. A total of 640 wounds (ischemic=314; non-ischemic=326) were assessed in 252 animals (92 mice, 140 rats, 20 rabbits) from 7 studies. Meta-analyses showed that wound healing was consistently delayed by ischemia at all time-points examined (day-7 standard median difference (SMD) 5.36, 95% CI 3.67 to 7.05; day-14 SMD 4.50, 95% CI 2.90 to 6.10 and day-21 SMD 2.53, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.80). No significant difference in wound healing was observed between 32 diabetic and 32 non-diabetic animals with ischemic wounds. Many studies lacked methods to reduce bias, such as outcome assessors blinded to group allocation and sample size calculations and clinically relevant model characteristics, such as use of older animals and a peripheral location of the wound. Five different interventions were reported to improve wound healing in these models. The impaired wound healing associated with limb ischemia can be modeled in a variety of different animals. Improvements in study design could increase clinical relevance, reduce bias and aid the discovery of translatable therapies.

Meta-analysis of negative pressure wound therapy of closed groin incisions in arterial surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical-site infection (SSI) after groin incisions for arterial surgery is common and may lead to amputation or death. Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings have been suggested to reduce SSIs. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to assess the effects of incisional NPWT on the incidence of SSI in closed groin incisions after arterial surgery.

METHODS

A study protocol for this systematic review of RCTs was published in Prospero (CRD42018090298) a priori, with predefined search, inclusion and exclusion criteria. The records generated by the systematic research were screened for relevance by title and abstract and in full text by two of the authors independently. The selected articles were rated for bias according to the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.

RESULTS

Among 1567 records generated by the search, seven RCTs were identified, including 1049 incisions. Meta-analysis showed a reduction in SSI with incisional NPWT (odds ratio (OR) 0·35, 95 per cent c.i. 0·24 to 0·50; P < 0·001). The heterogeneity between the included studies was low (I²  = 0 per cent). The quality of evidence was graded as moderate. Two studies had multiple domains in the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool rated as high risk of bias. A subgroup meta-analysis of three studies of lower limb revascularization procedures only (363 incisions) demonstrated a similar reduction in SSI (OR 0·37, 0·22 to 0·63; P < 0·001; I²  = 0 per cent).

CONCLUSION

Incisional NPWT after groin incisions for arterial surgery reduced the incidence of SSI compared with standard wound dressings. The risk of bias highlighted the need for a high-quality RCT with cost-effectiveness analysis.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent treatment of totally occlusive iliofemoral artery with limb ischemia: Experience of surgical team

Background

In this study, we present our center's experience on percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stenting.

Methods

Between January 2015 and March 2017, a total of 40 patients (34 males, 6 females; mean age 64.5±8.7 years; range, 49 to 85 years) who were treated in our clinic due to totally occluded iliofemoral artery disease were included. There were 45 legs and 51 targeted vessels. Hybrid procedure was performed to those patients with iliofemoral or femoropopliteal bypass grafts.

Results

A total of 48 target vessels (94.1%) were implanted using 55 stents at the initial attempt. Failed three target vessels (5.9%) were treated by surgical revascularization. There was no procedure-related mortality. Below-knee amputation was performed in one patient after 70 days. Two patients underwent single-finger amputation. Contrast nephropathy occurred in one patient and this patient was treated medically. The mean follow-up was 16.7±5 (range, 8 to 29) months. After follow-up, 41 stents were found to be patent without any intervention, and the primary patency rate was 74.5%. Five stent thrombosis patients (12.5%) were treated at different times.

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent treatment may be advisable in patients with significant comorbidities. The lower rates of complication in the stent series strongly suggest that, in experienced hands, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent can offer lower procedural risks than surgical revascularization. Hybrid procedure is likely to be a reasonable choice for previously intervened comorbid patients for limb salvage.