Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Skeletal traksi

MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE LIMB ISCHEMIA: RECOMMENDATIONS

1. For marginally or immediately threatened limbs(Category IIa and IIb ALI), revascularization should be performed emergently (within 6 hours). 
2. For viable limbs (Category I ALI), revascularization should be performed an on urgent basis (within 6 to 24 hours). 

Medication Therapy

• Upon clinical diagnosis, initiate analgesia, anticoagulation, and i.v. fluids. Addressing acidosis and hyperkalaemia may be necessary. Administer i.v. unfractionated heparin (bolus 5000 IU or 70–100 IU per kg body weight, followed by continuous infusion with dose adjustment based on patient response, monitored by activated clotting time or activated partial thromboplastin time)

Surgical Embolectomy : 

Pros

• Rapid revascularization
• Can be done via low tech instrument
• Transfemoral approach can be done via local anesthesia

Cons

• Vessel injury
• Reperfusion syndrome
• Low success rate if ischemia >24 hour
• Adjunct by “Intraoperative thrombolysis”

Cronenwett, Jack L.; Johnston, K. Wayne. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery 8th edition , Chapter 161 - 162 

Intraoperative Thrombolysis

Pros

• Adjunct to surgical thromboembolectomy  Clear residual thrombus in the small  arteries and arteriole
• Minimal risk of bleeding

Cons

• May be inadequate in some patients with extensive distal and small vessel thrombosis

Catheter Directed Thrombolysis

Pros

• Direct delivery of the drug into existing thrombus
  • ↓ Thrombolytic drug dosages
  • ↓ Systemic bleeding complications
• Lyses clot in both large and small vessels
• Lower reperfusion syndrome than embolectomy
• Done via percutaneous approach with local anesthesia

Cons

• Usually takes 12 - 24 hours to be effective
• Still increased bleeding risk
• ICH: 0-2.5%
• Major bleeding: 1-20%

Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) : as adjunctive therapy to thrombolysis (pharmacologic therapy)

Pros

• Disrupts the thrombus : Allows better penetration of the clot by a thrombolytic agent
  • ↓ Thrombolytic dosing
  • ↓ Therapy time : Increasingly being used in “class IIb”
• Done via percutaneous approach with local anesthesia
• Less vessel injury

Cons

• Can be used only large vessel
• Expensive device

Arterial Bypass Surgery

Pros

• Use in patient that…
  • Failed other procedures  Our last resort!!!
  • Severe tissue injury
  • Peripheral vascular disease
• Main treatment for thrombosed popliteal artery aneurysm 

Cons

• High surgical risk

 Amputation* : 

• Performed as the first(index) procedure in 
• A nonsalvageable (class III) limb 
• Low potential of limb salvage  
• Risk of reperfusion syndrome and associated MOF *may be deferred if pain under control and no infection and meets with patients goals 

MANAGEMENT OF Critical LIMB ISCHEMIA: RECOMMENDATIONS Revascularization options: general aspects