Dua A, Powell RJ, Lee AC, Bernardo N, Mills JL, Cardona LF, Bunte MC, Martinez-Trabal JL, Ghandour S, Gandhi SS, N'Dandu Z, Schneider PA, Clair D, Shishehbor MH
Abstract
The incidence of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, the most severe form of peripheral artery disease, is increasing. A considerable portion are deemed "no-option" patients and have high rates of limb loss and death, with even worse outcomes in underrepresented populations. This study aimed to delineate real-world, contemporary outcomes in an observational study of no-option chronic limb-threatening ischemia patients. The composite primary end point was amputation-free survival (defined as freedom from death and above-ankle amputation) at 1 year. A total of 180 patients with no-option chronic limb-threatening ischemia were included from 22 centers across the US. The median age was 70 years (IQR, 61-78 years), 33% were women, 39% were Black, and 11% were Hispanic/Latino. Comorbidities included 76% with diabetes, 33% with heart failure, and 25% with end-stage renal disease. At 1 year, the amputation-free survival rate was 37%, 45% had major amputation, and 33% died. Additionally, two-thirds of the remaining patients had persistent non-healing ulcers, 44% had minor amputation, and 83% required ambulatory assistance. In this severely diseased population, approximately half of patients underwent major amputation and one-third died within a year, highlighting the pressing need for innovative interventions for limb salvage.
