Worse limb prognosis for indirect versus direct endovascular revascularization only in patients with critical limb ischemia complicated with wound infection and diabetes mellitus.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate factors in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and isolated infrapopliteal lesions that adversely affect outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) with or without angiosome-oriented revascularization. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study. We used a database of 718 consecutive CLI patients (70 ± 11 years, 75% diabetics, 68% on hemodialysis, 24% Rutherford class 6) with ischemic tissue loss due to isolated infrapopliteal lesions undergoing primary EVT. Primary outcome was MALE (major adverse limb event). Association between indirect EVT (recanalization of a non-angiosome-based artery) and outcome was assessed by Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS: C-reactive protein (CRP) level was >3 mg/dL in 32% of cases. Indirect EVT (in 307 CLI patients, 43%), was associated with MALE (p = .04, hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 1.25 [1.01, 1.55]), and interacted with CRP >3 mg/dL (p < .004) but not with other baseline characteristics. Indirect EVT with CRP >3 mg/dL had higher MALE risk (HR 2.08), and interacted with diabetes mellitus (DM) presence. Indirect EVT with CRP >3 mg/dL and DM had higher MALE risk (HR 2.17). CONCLUSION: Limb prognosis was equivalent for direct and indirect endovascular revascularization except in the presence of both diabetes and wound infection, when indirect revascularization has a poorer outcome.