Prediction of Limb Salvage Following Percutaneous Vascular Intervention Using a Composite Tibial Artery Perfusion Score

PURPOSE

To assess a novel tibial artery perfusion score (TPS) for predicting limb salvage in critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients undergoing percutaneous vascular intervention (PVI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A consecutive cohort of 115 CLI patients undergoing PVI in 144 limbs from 2011 to 2016 was analyzed. TPS comprised a 27-point scale based on: (1) patent tibial vessels following PVI, (2) severity of calcification of the tibial arteries, (3) presence of an intact pedal arch following intervention, (4) whether or not revascularization was direct or indirect based on the target angiosome, (5) presence of angiosome blush at the completion of index intervention. Limbs were stratified into (1) High [21-27 points], (2) Medium [13-20 points], and (3) Low [0-12 points] TPS. Predictive value of TPS was evaluated using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 15.7 months (range 0.4-69.9 months). Limb salvage in High, Medium, and Low TPS groups was 90.6%, 85.9%, and 55.6%, respectively, as freedom from the composite outcome: (1) limb complication resulting in death, (2) tibial bypass surgery, (3) above-the-knee amputation, or (4) below-the-knee amputation in patients without supratibial disease at the time of PVI. TPS was significantly associated with limb salvage defined as freedom from both the composite outcome and major amputation.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on this preliminary investigation, TPS was associated with limb salvage in CLI limbs, particularly in high-risk limbs. Further validation in a prospective cohort may identify patients with high-risk limbs in need of closer surveillance and earlier reintervention.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case series.

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