Long-Term Outcomes of Acute Limb Ischemia: A Retrospective Analysis of 93 Consecutive Limbs

Objective: To examine the medium- to long-term outcomes of acute limb ischemia (ALI), which are unclear at present. Methods: We analyzed 93 consecutive limbs in 77 patients with ALI between January 2005 and December 2015 treated at our vascular center. We categorized the cases into four groups according to etiology (embolism, thrombosis, graft thrombosis, and dissection groups) to assess survival, limb salvage, and freedom from re-intervention rates. Results: The mean age at onset was 72±15 years. The median follow-up length was 2.90 years. The Rutherford categories I, IIa, IIb, and III included 1, 38, 51, and 3 cases, respectively. Thromboembolectomy was performed in all patients in the embolism and thrombosis groups. In addition, endovascular treatment was performed in 25 (37.3%) patients, especially in the thrombosis group (81.3%). A major amputation could not be avoided in 10 patients. The 5-year limb salvage rates for categories IIa and IIb were 97.1% and 83.1%, respectively. The 5-year freedom from re-intervention rate was 89.2%. The survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 87.9%, 75.2%, and 60.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The 5-year survival rates of patients with ALI were equivalent to those with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI). The intervention and long-term outcomes were distinguishable according to etiology.