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VS19P PATTERN OF PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE IN CRITICAL LOWER LIMB ISCHEMIA.

Han C, Westcott M, Morrison W

St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the pattern of peripheral arterial disease in critical lower limb ischemia. Methodology 76 patients, without previous lower limb vascular surgery, presented to St. Vincent's Hospital Melbourne with critical lower limb ischemia, manifesting either as rest pain, ischemic ulcers or gangrene over a 1 year period. Digital subtraction angiograms of lower limbs arteries were analyzed to understand the pattern of arterial atherosclerotic disease. Results The superficial femoral artery was occluded in 37 of 76 patients, in this group of patients the popliteal artery was reformed from collaterals in all but 5 patients. 42 patients had a single artery run off below the knee. The peroneal artery was only remaining patent artery in 61%, the anterior tibial in 29% and the posterior tibial in 10% of patients. Conclusion The peroneal artery is frequently the last remaining patent artery below the knee in patients with critical limb ischemia. This may have implications for surgeons in artery selection for lower limb vascular bypass surgery.

Published 10 May 2007 in ANZ J Surg, 77: A101.
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