Risk factors for early lower limb loss after embolectomy for acute arterial occlusion: a population-based...

To identify risk factors for lower limb loss after arterial embolectomy a cohort of 1189 patients was studied. Detailed data were obtained for 165 patients who underwent a major amputation within 30 days of embolectomy and for 165 matched controls. The amputation risk was increased in patients with two or more myocardial infarctions (odds ratio (OR) 3.1, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 0.8-11.2), chronic ischaemia (OR 2.1, CI 0.9-4.9), long duration of symptoms (OR 4.3, CI 1.9-9.6, for greater than or equal to 25 h versus less than or equal to 6 h) or postoperative heart failure (OR 3.4, CI 1.8-6.5). Reduced risks were found in association with acute myocardial infarction (OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.9) and postoperative anticoagulation treatment with warfarin (OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.9). The independent prognostic value of chronic ischaemia and symptom duration, and the beneficial effect of postoperative anticoagulation gained additional support in multivariate analysis. We conclude that the risk of early amputation after arterial embolectomy or thrombectomy can be predicted by several clinical characteristics.